Read on Twitter
Seeing as Ali Akman is being linked with a €3 million move to Arsenal and Chelsea, I thought I’d pull together a quick thread on one of my favourite Turkish players 
18-year-old Ali has been with Bursaspor since 2015. He’s capable of playing anywhere across the attack, but is most comfortable down the middle. His movement is exceptional and he’s a natural finisher. Despite being 5’6” he’s also surprisingly good in the air.
With that in mind let’s have a look at a few of his goals. Fig 1 v Altınordu. Great pressing here from Ali forces young defender Ravil Tagir into a mistake to make it 2-0 to Bursaspor.
Fig 2 v Balıkesirspor. The run here is instinctive; finish inch perfect. Also props to Burak Kapacak for what is an incredible through ball.
Fig 3 v Boluspor. Always on the move, this is my favourite Ali goal from this season. That chip is so delicious it deserves a Michelin star.
Fig 4 v Boluspor. Ali can also create goals. Again showing quick thinking from a throw in, he assists Batuhan Kör (another talented young forward) for a last minute winner.
Meanwhile here is a run from the Boluspor game which frees up space for Burak to cut inside. Imo Burak has the most potential in this young Bursaspor team, which has an average age of just 22. Such raw inexperience is a big part of why they’re currently 9th in 1. Lig.
Anyway back to Ali Akman. From these clips you’ll agree he looks pretty decent. But some points of caution. Bursaspor play in the second division, having been relegated from Süper Lig in 2019. Ali has not yet played a top flight game.
He may have 9 in 16, but in his last 8 games he’s only scored twice. 1. Lig top scorer Marco Paixao has 12 for Altay, yet you don’t see the 36-year-old Portuguese being linked anywhere big.
To summarise, Ali has a lot of potential but is nowhere near the finished article. To go to England now would be daft (see Enes Ünal). I think he’ll get to that level one day, but staying in Turkey or going to Salzburg will be far better for his development atm.
