Reports linking Premier League trio Arsenal, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace with Sacha Boey are coming as no surprise to Galatasaray team-mate Nicolo Zaniolo.
Italy international Zaniolo has only been a Gala player since January. But it didn’t take the former Roma man long to realise why so many clubs across the continent are taking a keen interest in a 22-year-old right-back who continues to come on leaps and bounds since turning down Celtic in favour of the Turkish giants back in 2021.
Crystal Palace could turn to Sacha Boey after accepting defeat in their hopes of bringing Aaron Wan-Bissaka back to Selhurst Park. Boey could potentially replace the departing Ashley Young at Aston Villa (Takvim), while the former France U20 international has spoken excitedly about reports suggesting he is also on Arsenal’s radar.
“Sacha is a good player,” Zaniolo tells Gazzetta dello Sport. “He has running (ability), technique, and he defends well.
“At Galatasaray he plays on the right. Right behind me. I’m not surprised by the interest from Juventus and the big names.”
Arsenal may make another move for Sacha Boey
The athletic, attack-minded Boey provided four assists as Galatasaray won Turkey’s Super Lig in 2022/23. At Arsenal, the former Rennes youngster could give Mikel Arteta a more natural option on the right-hand side, even if Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu have both proven themselves more than adept at filling in on the flank.
Galatasaray, Hurriyet say, have rejected Arsenal’s opening bid of £12 million. They want £17 million, though it remains to be seen if there is any money left in the budget with the Gunners committing themselves to the big-money acquisitions of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
Ajax’s Timber, like White and Tomiyasu, can also play at right-back.
“I am a Galatasaray player,” Boey tells SoFoot. “But I have even bigger ambitions. I think they will understand me and respect that because I have never cheated (them). We only have one career, we have to go for it.
“The interest from Arsenal is very flattering. The Premier League is the league I’m aiming for. So, we’ll see what happens.”
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