Arsenal have held talks over £50m Eintracht Frankfurt star Can Uzun, with Everton now in the race

Arsenal have already held talks over a potential move for Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Can Uzun, according to Caught Offside, but Everton are also monitoring the £50m-rated star. Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion are in the hunt, while Arsenal deem him not a priority target.

  • Player: Can Uzun, right-footed creative midfielder
  • Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
  • Release clause: £50m (€60m)
  • Contract: Runs until 2029
  • Arsenal stance: Held talks but unwilling to match asking price
  • Rivals: Everton, Aston Villa, Brighton, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Napoli

Deal details

Eintracht Frankfurt will not sanction Can Uzun's departure unless a suitor triggers his £50m (€60m) release clause, with his existing deal at the German club running until 2029. Arsenal have already held talks over a potential swoop but do not consider the 21-year-old a primary target and are unwilling to match the Bundesliga side's asking price.

Everton have been keeping a close eye on Uzun's development before making a potential swoop, according to Caught Offside. The Toffees face fierce competition for his signature, with Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion also in the race. Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Napoli have previously shown interest in the midfielder.

The numbers

  • Uzun has made seven goal contributions across all competitions this season
  • He has a £50m (€60m) release clause
  • His Eintracht Frankfurt contract runs until 2029
  • Everton's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made 12 goal contributions in 32 appearances across all competitions last season
  • Dewsbury-Hall has scored twice and registered one assist in seven Premier League appearances this campaign

Why Everton need a creative midfielder

Everton's interest in Uzun stems from a lack of depth in the No.10 position. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who joined from Chelsea and now plays at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, has established himself as an undisputed starter in the creative midfield role. The 28-year-old enjoyed a promising start to this campaign, scoring twice and registering a solitary assist in seven Premier League appearances.

Beyond Dewsbury-Hall, Everton have Carlos Alcaraz as their alternative No.10 option. However, the Argentine has struggled to break into David Moyes' starting line-up. As a result, the Toffees are planning to purchase a new midfielder, with Uzun identified as a target.

Moyes' side will have to overcome fierce competition to seal the deal. Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion are also in this race, while Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Napoli have previously shown interest. Arsenal's presence adds another layer of complexity, although the Gunners' reluctance to meet the release clause may open the door for Everton.

Why Arsenal are reluctant to pay £50m

Arsenal's stance is shaped by their existing creative midfield options. The Gunners currently have Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Max Dowman as creative midfield options. Therefore, they don't need to add further depth to this position unless anyone leaves. Uzun is a talented player and possesses the potential to reach the top, but Arsenal are not willing to purchase him by matching the German side's asking price.

Uzun is a right-footed creative midfielder by trait. He has shown glimpses of his qualities in the Bundesliga in recent times, making seven goal contributions across all competitions this season. Nevertheless, he might be a shrewd acquisition for Arsenal or Everton should either club purchase him.

It is going to be interesting to see whether the North London club or the Merseyside club eventually make a concrete approach to secure his services.

Talking points

  • Should Arsenal pay the £50m release clause for a player they don't consider a priority, or is their reluctance a sign they trust Max Dowman's development?
  • Everton's pursuit of Uzun makes sense given Carlos Alcaraz's struggles, but can they compete with Aston Villa and Brighton for a £50m talent?
  • Is Uzun's £50m price tag justified by seven goal contributions this season, or are Frankfurt pricing him on potential rather than output?
  • With Arsenal already having Odegaard, Eze, Merino and Dowman, would signing Uzun stunt the growth of their existing creative options?

What happens next

Arsenal, Everton, Aston Villa and Brighton must decide whether to trigger Can Uzun's £50m release clause. Eintracht Frankfurt will not negotiate below that figure, and the midfielder's contract runs until 2029. Everton are monitoring his development closely, while Arsenal have held talks but remain unwilling to meet the asking price. The next move in the market will shape whether Uzun arrives in the Premier League this season.

Frequently asked questions

Have Arsenal held talks to sign Can Uzun?

Yes, Arsenal have already held talks over a potential swoop for Can Uzun, according to Caught Offside.

How much would Can Uzun cost?

Eintracht Frankfurt will not let him leave unless a suitor triggers his £50m (€60m) release clause.

Are Everton interested in Can Uzun?

Yes, Everton have been keeping a close eye on Uzun's development before making a potential swoop, but they face competition from Aston Villa and Brighton.

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