Arsenal have submitted a £2.5m bid for 16-year-old Adana Demirspor goalkeeper Deniz Donmezer, according to the Turkish club's former vice-president.
The Gunners underwent a significant summer of change in the goalkeeping department, firstly making David Raya's loan from Brentford permanent after a successful first season at the club.
Following one season as Raya's backup, Aaron Ramsdale jumped ship for relegation-threatened Southampton on a permanent deadline-day deal, leading the Gunners to bring in Neto on loan from Bournemouth as his replacement.
Arsenal's goalkeeping alterations were not limited to the seniors, as Arthur Okonkwo left on a free transfer for League One outfit Wrexham, while Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard both joined the club's academy ranks.
Furthermore, 16-year-old Jack Porter is now in and around the first team and became the youngest-ever player to start a match for Arsenal's men's side in September, featuring in a 5-1 EFL Cup win over Bolton Wanderers.
Ex-Demirspor chief confirms Arsenal bid for Donmezer
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However, despite the presence of Porter and Setford, Arsenal are reportedly still trying to bolster their goalkeeping ranks with another talented teenager, as Neto will head back to Bournemouth when his loan deal expires.
According to former Demirspor vice-president Metin Korkmaz - as quoted by The Mirror - Arsenal have now made their move for 16-year-old Donmezer, but the 2008-born protege would not link up with Arteta's squad straight away.
Instead, Demirspor would retain his services for another year and a half before he moves to England in 2026, just a few months short of his 18th birthday, although he could sign a professional deal with Arsenal when he turns 17.
"Arsenal have sent an official offer of €3m (£2.5m). According to this offer, they will pay the money, but Deniz will play with us on loan for a year and a half. Then he would join Arsenal," the outlet quotes Korkmaz as saying.
Who is Arsenal-linked goalkeeper Donmezer?
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Even younger than fellow 16-year-old Porter, Donmezer might be in the embryonic stages of his career, but the 2008-born phenom has already become the number one for Adana Demirspor.
Donmezer has played 14 matches for his current club in all competitions, albeit while keeping just one clean sheet and conceding 32 goals, failing to keep a single shut-out in 12 Super Lig games.
Adana Demirspor are all but condemned to relegation from the Turkish Super Lig as they sit bottom of the table, but Donmezer at least helped his team to a shock 2-1 win over Besiktas in December.
Already standing at 6ft 3in tall with the potential to grow a little bit more, Donmezer is also a five-cap Turkey Under-16 international, and his contract with Demirspor only runs for another year and a half.
However, with Donmezer not joining until 2026, the question of who will directly replace Ramsdale next season is still left to be answered, although Arsenal will likely look to the market for an experienced number two this summer.
Ben Knapton
