Aston Villa reportedly attempted a summer swoop for a wonderkid striker wanted by Tottenham Hotspur.
The Villans are said to have acted on their reported interest in Beşiktaş attacker Semih Kılıçsoy, seeing a bid rejected during the recent transfer window.
It turned out to be a rather quiet end to the summer for Unai Emery’s side but business appears to have been bubbling away in the background as Sinan Engin, a former general manager at Beşiktaş and now a pundit, has claimed Villa saw an official proposal for Kılıçsoy rejected.
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Engin made the shock revelation while commentating on a recent match for Beyaz Futbol, as relayed by Turkish outlet Aslinda. “Aston Villa gave 15 million euros to sign Semih Kılıçsoy and Beşiktaş did not accept it,” Engin said.
It’s understood that Emery wanted to sign a new versatile forward in the the summer, so it would come as no surprise if Villa did indeed lodge a €15 million (£12.6 million) bid. After all, the 19-year-old has gained the attention of a whole host of clubs across Europe, including Premier League sides Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham.
Already a three-time Turkey international and once an appearance maker at UEFA EURO 2024, Kılıçsoy scored 11 goals in 23 matches during his recent breakthrough Süper Lig season. Before that, the 18-year-old netted an impressive 42 goals in 64 games for Beşiktaş Under-19.
Semih Kılıçsoy’s play style suits Aston Villa
Predominantly a centre-forward but also capable of playing on either flank, Kılıçsoy is a strong dribbler and finisher but occasionally dawdles on the ball and struggles with crossing. The Turk likes to take on defenders by cutting inside, though he does commit fouls often.
Still a teenager, Kılıçsoy is a raw talent and would likely flourish under the stewardship of a man-management genius like Emery. The likes of Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola and Ange Postecoglou are all very capable too, though, so it could be tricky for Villa to brush away the competition.