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Club chief offers update on Arsenal’s pursuit of £35m-rated Bundesliga star

By on July 30, 2018

As reported by the Express, Freiburg sporting director Klemens Hartenbach insists Arsenal are yet to open formal negotiations over a deal to sign highly-rated centre-back Caglar Soyuncu.

Unai Emery has already made five signings this summer with Greek defender Sokratis among those to have made the move to north London in recent weeks having joined from Borussia Dortmund.

However, with Per Mertesacker now retired and Laurent Koscielny facing months on the sidelines following Achilles surgery the boss is still being tipped to bring in another central defender before the window closes.

We were strongly linked with a move for Soyuncu during the early stages of the summer transfer window and at one point it looked like a deal was a close to becoming a formality.

Soyuncu began his career at Altinordu and the clubs president, Mehmet Ozkan, claimed in June that the centre-back was poised to join Arsenal after we asked them for information on the player.

Ozkan is quoted as saying by the Express:

“Caglar Soyuncu is set to join Arsenal. Of course we would make a cut from the transfer if he joins Arsenal.

“Arsenal asked us for data on his time at the club, we have put something together for them which will be handed over.”

Soyuncu’s agent then fuelled the speculation even further after claiming that formal talks were underway over a deal for the player and all that remained was for a fee to be agreed with Freiburg.

Mustafa Dogru is quoted by the Metro as saying:

‘Sven Mislintat has been keen on Caglar since he was at Borussia Dortmund,’

‘He first scouted him back in Germany. Sven is interested in Caglar, there are concrete talks, all that remains is for a fee to be agreed. We will see what happens next.’

The newspaper suggested that Freiburg value Soyuncu at around £35m and the defender made it clear he was keen to join Arsenal after saying “Arsenal are an option and I want to go there” back in June.

However, things have gone quiet in recent weeks and although Arsenal may have held talks with Soyuncu and his agent, Freiburg insist they’ve had no contact from the Gunners regarding a deal.

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The clubs sporting director is quoted by the Express as saying:

“Arsenal have never approached us. We assume that Soyuncu plays with us next year.”

We’ll have to wait and see whether Arsenal decide to step-up their interest in the 22-year-old during the closing days of the window but I personally think Emery is only looking to bring in a winger before the window shuts so I’d be shocked if anything happened with Soyuncu.