Arsenal 'make £17m bid' for new defender that had Lee Dixon purring

Arsenal have reportedly submitted a £17million bid for Fenerbahce defender Ferdi Kadioglu. The Turkish international, previously linked with the likes of Manchester United and West Ham, was involved in Euro 2024 this summer as his side reached the quarter-finals.

That followed the left-back making 42 appearances at club level last season, and he has now spent seven seasons with the Yellow Canaries following his move from NEC.

And despite already sealing the signing of Riccardo Calafiori this summer, Mikel Arteta appears intent on further bolstering his defensive options.

But crucially, Kadioglu can also slot in as winger or midfielder, with his versatility long hailed by Fenerbahce fans. And according to Nutuk.tr, both Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have made identical offers to sign him.

However, the Super Lig side are said to want a fee in the region of £30m. This would represent a record amount for a top-flight player in Turkey.

But if the words of former Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon on anything to go by, Arteta and co should consider a revised offer. He was on duty for ITV when Turkey were beaten 2-1 in that last-eight clash in Berlin, and later singled out the player for praise.

“Looks an absolute star doesn’t he (Kadioglu) tonight?” he said during the second half. “I think that wing-back role really suits him as well.”

Should the Gunners improve their offer, then a move may hinge on whether Kadioglu wants a guarantee of first team football. Amid the signing of Calafiori, it appears unlikely Arteta can offer a regular place in the starting XI.

The development also throws further doubt over the future of Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Ukrainian lost his place on the left to Takehiro Tomiyasu at the end of the 2023/24 campagn, and endured a difficult summer tour of the US.

However, the 27-year-old issued a reminder to his manager during Wednesday’s 4-1 friendly win over Bayer Leverkusen. Zinchenko scored the opening goal, and was a force at both ends of the pitch as Arsenal eased past the German champions.

The north London club are also expected to bring in a midfielder before their Premier League opener with Wolves on August 17. They’ve reportedly agreed terms with Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, but a transfer is yet to materialise.