SOURCES: TOTTENHAM AND WOLVES JOIN £17M RACE AS PRESIDENT ADMITS STAR WILL LEAVE

Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers have joined Premier League challengers Arsenal in the race to sign Fenerbahce flyer Ferdi Kadioglu during the summer transfer window.

HITC Football understands that one of the most exciting young talents in the Turkish Super Lig is emerging as a man in high demand ahead of the off-season.

We have been informed that, after naming The Gunners as one of Ferdi Kadioglu’s suitors in January, Arsenal’s North London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur have also thrown their hat into the ring.

There is interest from Wolves too, Gary O’Neil’s side chasing European qualification following a superb spell of recruitment which has seen the likes of Matheus Cunha, Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina arrive at a newly-optimistic Molineux.

Tottenham and Wolves join Ferdi Kadioglu battle
Kadioglu, an adaptable, two-footed full-back who has played on the left or the right as well as further forward and in central midfield, would add competition and depth to a number of different areas of O’Neil’s squad.

Arsenal, meanwhile, may be hoping that Kadioglu could bring to the Emirates something similar to that of Takehiro Tomiyasu; Arteta’s go-to utility man. The Dutch-born Turkish international is tactically smart and very comfortable with the ball at his feet. Two attributes that would also appeal to Ange Postecoglou, who utilises his full-backs as not only inverted central midfielders but even as bonafide ‘number tens’ on occasions.

Kadioglu has just two years left on his Fenerbahce contract. The former NEC Nijmegen ace took his tally to three goals and four assists during 2023/24 with one of each during Sunday’s 4-1 thrashing of Pendikspor.

It remains to be seen how much Fenerbahce plan to demand. Kadioglu was reportedly valued at around £17 million when linked with Newcastle United and Inter Milan a few months back.

Fenerbahce expect to sell

Fener president Ali Ko, admitted in February that the midfielder-turned-defender is likely to depart at the end of the current campaign.

“We bought him for the ‘number ten’ position!,” Koc tells Halk TV. “He has developed so well. He is happy at Fenerbahce but now is the time to write a new story.

“My prediction – and opinion – is that he will set sail for a new story at the end of the season.”

Kadioglu scored with a stunning strike as Turkey defeated Euro 2024 hosts Germany in November.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal appear to be in the market for left-sided defensive reinforcements. The versatile Kadioglu had caught the eye alongside Jorrel Hato; the Dutch wonderkid who this week signed a new contract at Ajax.

But like with Hato – the ink drying on his new long-term deal – Arsenal will not have it easy if they plan to step up their interest in the Fenerbahce man when the window opens.

Arsenal and Spurs, meanwhile, are also both keen on Fiorentina full-back Michael Kayode.