Newsletters
Several top-tier Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City, are closely monitoring Turkish international Zeki Celik, who is nearing the end of his contract with Italian Serie A leader AS Roma this season, English media reported.
The 28-year-old right-back will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs beginning in January, paving the way for a potential summer move, particularly attractive to teams seeking to strengthen their defensive line.
According to the British sports outlet TeamTalk, Manchester United emerges as the front-runner among the English powerhouses as part of a broader effort to reinforce their right flank.
According to sources cited by TEAMtalk, the club is actively seeking a new right wing-back who can contribute to both defensive stability and attacking width. While a central midfielder remains United’s top priority for the January window, the wing-back role has become increasingly vital to the club’s evolving tactical setup.
While no formal bids have been submitted, clubs have begun preliminary talks aimed at evaluating potential terms and gauging the defender’s interest in a move to England, the report said.
With Celik set to become a free agent in the summer and several high-profile clubs already engaged in informal contact, the coming weeks may prove decisive. Roma hopes to secure his continued service, but interest from England's elite has introduced considerable uncertainty, the report suggested.
Celik joined Roma in 2022 and has since made 121 appearances for the club, registering two goals and seven assists. This season, he has added one goal and one assist in 11 Serie A matches.
As a Turkish international, he has earned 58 caps and scored three goals in national team competitions. According to Transfermarkt, his current transfer value is €6 million ($6.94 million).
1 min read
4 min read
