Galatasaray star Sacha Boey is once again being linked with a transfer to Arsenal as Mikel Arteta aims to sign a new right-back this summer.
The Gunners had been mildly linked to the 22-year-old back in March, with Turkish outlet Akşam, via Sport Witness, reporting the north Londoners had identified the right-back as a 'priority' target because Arteta is 'keen' to have him at his disposal next season.
With the summer window now close to opening those links have emerged again with Boey put forward as one of six players Galatasaray could sell at the end of the season. A report from Fotomaç also notes that the French defender has a contract at the Istanbul club until 2025 but could sanction an imminent sale if a €15million (£13million) deal, including bonuses, is met.
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But who is Boey and why are the Gunners aiming to acquire his services? football.london has provided all there is to know on the Frenchman.
Who is Sacha Boey?
Sacha Boey is a 22-year-old French right-back who currently plays for Turkish club Galatasaray.
At just 14, Boey joined the youth academy of Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais before making his senior debut on May 5, 2019 in a 2-2 draw with Toulouse. Mid-way through his two years at Rennes, Boey spent a season on loan at Dijon FCO before returning back to his parent club.
After making minimal appearances at Rennes, Boey signed for Galatasaray in the summer of 2021 where he has since made 49 appearances. In the 2022/23 campaign, the defender of Cameroonian descent has featured in 30 games scoring one goal and grabbing three assists.
Strong performances in Turkey has seen him linked with a move to the Premier League with Manchester United and Newcastle joining Arsenal in showing interest. Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg are also said to have him on their list of possible summer acquisitions.
Why do Arsenal want him?
The need for further depth in defence has been brutally exposed in Arsenal's end of season run-in. Injuries to William Saliba, Takehiro Tomiyasu and now Oleksandr Zinchenko have significantly affected Mikel Arteta's play style, which is built on his defenders successfully starting attacks from deep.
A new right-back to offer depth and competition to Ben White appears to be an obvious priority with the Gunners also linked to RB Leipzig's Mohamed Simakan, Real Valladolid star Ivan Fresneda and Southampton full-back Tino Livramento.
With Galatasaray also said to be considering selling Boey, Arsenal could take advantage of their predicament and sign him at a cut-price fee. This could then allow Arteta and Edu to focus on other departments in the squad where further additions are needed without spending too much of their budget on fixing a worrying defensive issue.
What has been said?
Former Arsenal star Bacary Sagna has already given the green light for his old club to sign Boey. In an interview with Millyet in April, Sagna said: "Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey is a player I really like. I think he will fit perfectly into Arsenal. As a right-back too, I have to say I think he’s great. I’m sure many clubs have Sacha Boey in mind. There is a contract to sign."
TurkishFootball.com have also given Arsenal fans a glimpse of what they could expect from Boey. In an article detailing ones to watch in the Turkish league, Boey has been described as a player who "quickly established himself as a critical player for the team, showcasing his excellent technical skills and ability to read the game."
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