It's not just a distant second place finish Leicester and Man City are fighting it out for this season, it seems.
The two have held second and third place between them virtually all season as they continue to prop up runaway leaders Liverpool, but it looks as though there will be another prize on the line when the transfer window opens - 17-year-old forward Ali Akman.
Akman has burst onto the scene at Bursaspor following their relegation from the Super Lig last season, and although four goals in 18 appearances in the second tier doesn't exactly scream 'generational', it's worth noting he has started just three of those, averaging a goal or an assist every 92 minutes.
Home sweet home pic.twitter.com/Og5zkJ3Kuh
— Ali Akman (@AliAkman_18) February 13, 2020
Though primarily a centre-forward, he has spent much of his time on the pitch out on either flank, and it seems his versatility and application have caught the eye of Premier League scouts.
Turkish outlet Fotospor lead with a report claiming that Leicester have been following his development closely and are ready to make an offer in the foreseeable, having been impressed with what they've seen in recent performances.
They note further down that Manchester City are in the queue along with Süper Lig side Fenerbahce, and it's unclear as yet if the Turkey Under-18 international would prefer to try his hand abroad or to continue his development in his home country.
Manchester City, Bursaspor forması giyen 17 yaşındaki Ali Akman ile yakından ilgileniyor. (Tele Football) pic.twitter.com/OhzN2T0VcC
— EPL Günlükleri (@EPL_Gunlukleri) March 18, 2020
Bursaspor's negotiating position will likely alter drastically depending on how they fare in this season's race for promotion. Akman's hometown club are currently just one point off the automatic promotion places as things stand, and will have a playoff system identical to that in the English Championship to negotiate should they fall short.
Should they fail to gain promotion, it's likely they would be more open to selling. The player's current deal expires in 2021, however, so whatever happens, his future may hinge on his willingness to put pen to paper on extended terms.
It's unclear what sort of immediate role he would play in either Leicester or Manchester, but the stage of his development means a loan back to Turkey for at least one season looks a viable option.
Source : 90min