With back-to-back title challenges falling just short, Tottenham have wasted no time in preparing for next season. According to Ajansspor, Spurs have agreed a fee for 19-year old Turkish international Cengiz Ünder.
The winger’s first season at Istanbul Basaksehir concluded this week with the Turkish Cup final against Konyaspor. Ünder is a teammate of former Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor who can advise the young winger about the ins-and-outs of the Premier League.
After spending his first two professional seasons in the Turkish second division, Ünder has blossomed into a key piece of former Turkey national manager Abdullah Avci’s first division squad.
The left-footed player has appeared in the fourth-most games while scoring the second-most goals for second-place Basaksehir this season, which has clearly piqued Mauricio Pochettino’s interest. The Argentine has an eye for young players and is willing to give them a chance in the first team, so it could be a match made in heaven for Ünder.
Nonetheless, the teenager isn't exactly a household name in England - so here's the lowdown on Ünder...
A stunning 2016/17
The 19-year old Turkish winger burst onto the scene this past season with Basaksehir in the Turkish Super League. Ünder is primarily left-footed but can finish confidently with either boot and has shown a willingness to shoot from distance, with half his shots coming from outside the box. The Turkish international also has a big bag of dribbling tricks that he isn’t afraid to use.
Promising Beginnings
Ünder made his professional debut in December 2014 with Turkish second division club Altinordu at the age of 17. He scored 11 goals in 58 appearances across his first two professional seasons before moving to Basaksehir for £595k on July 1, 2016. In his first season with Basaksehir, he helped the club to a second-place finish and a 15-point improvement as the youngest first-team player. Ünder has missed only one game due to injury and one due to yellow card suspension through his first three career seasons.
Goal Threat
Ünder has been a regular for second-place Basaksehir this season, starting in 33 of 39 games played across the league, Turkish Cup and Europa League qualifiers. His nine total goals are tied for club’s second-most this season and he created five more while playing mostly on the left side. He scored both of Basaksehir’s goals in the 2-2 semi final first leg against Fenerbache.
National Team Progress
The 19-year old has been on the national radar for some time, appearing 21 times across three Turkish youth team and scoring seven goals, six for the under-19 squad. Ünder has two senior caps, making his international debut as a substitute on November 12, 2016 in a World Cup qualifier against Kosovo. Ünder made his first international start and scored his first senior international goal — a 25-yard thunderbolt — in the March 27 friendly against Moldova.
Work Permit Problems?
He doesn’t appear to have a European Union passport, which might keep him from getting a work permit immediately. Turkey is 22nd in the FIFA rankings but only two caps don’t qualify Ünder just yet. For comparison, Manchester City signed young Turkish star Enes Unal in 2015, but the striker spent the past two seasons on loan and still doesn’t qualify for a British work permit due to a shortage of international appearances. He's now been sold to Villarreal. Tottenham can loan Ünder back to Basaksehir, who will play European football this upcoming season, or send him to a league like the Eredivisie until he gains enough caps for Turkey.