Scout Report – Cengiz Under
Tottenham Hotspur are close to completing the signature of Turkish wonderkid Cengiz Under from Super Lig side Istanbul Basaksehir according to Turkish-Football.com.
The 19-year old was one of the standout players in the Turkish top division, helping Basaksehir to a surprise second-placed finish in the 2016/17 season. His impressive performances have attracted interests from several quarters across Europe, but as per the reports, Tottenham seem to have stolen a march on them.
Dubbed as Turkish ‘Paulo Dybala’, let’s take a look at who really Cengiz Under is and what makes him such a special talent;
Footballing Background
Born on 14 July 1997, in Balikesir, Turkey, he started off with the Bucaspor academy in 2007. His rapid rise through the ranks attracted the interests of Turkish second division side Altinordu who signed him in 2013. It was here, where he really started to show his true talent.
Under broke into the first team of Altinordu in September 2014 and went on to establish himself as a regular in the team. He finished his debut season with the senior team with 5 goals and 5 assists from 26 games, before bettering his returns in the next campaign finishing with 6 goals and 4 assists from 32 games.
His rise in stature alerted Basaksehir, who snapped him up last summer. The youngster has delivered in his debut season in the top flight. He finished the campaign with a total of 9 goals and 7 assists from 41 games, helping the capital club mount a surprise title challenge, which fell through in the penultimate week of the season.
Under’s rise through the ranks of the Turkish youth national teams has also been equally rapid. Having represented Turkey in the U18, U19 and the U21 levels, the 19-year old made his bow for the Turkey national team in November 2016 against Kosovo. He scored his first goal for Turkey in his second appearance, against Moldova.
Style of Play
Primarily a winger who is comfortable on either flank, Under can also play in the hole behind the striker as a No.10.
Dubbed as the ‘Turkish Dybala’, owing to the similarities in playing style with Juventus star Paulo Dybala, Under is known for his blistering pace on the pitch. Predominantly left-footed, he likes to play on the right flank and cut inside onto his stronger foot and unleash shots at goal. He is a good crosser of the ball too.
Most of his goals this season have come from long-range stunning efforts, indicating that he has the confidence and backs himself to score from distance.
His work rate and defensive contribution is something that he needs to improve if he is to achieve success at big clubs.
What Does The Future Hold?
Basaksehir President Goksel Gumusdag revealed to Turkish-Football.com that there has been a lot of interest in Under, but that the club don’t want to sell. He was quoted as saying:
“There were scouts from Premier League scouts and La Liga teams at the Besiktas derby. I will reveal the details at the end of the season as I do not want to distract the team. We do not want to sell Under but will discuss this once the season is over.”
It seems like Tottenham have managed to steal a march in the race to sign Cengiz, after having agreed on a £8million fee for the transfer of Under. Will he live up to the billing and be the next Dele Alli for the North Londoners? The signs are extremely positive.