---
title: "Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs face stiff competition from Everton to sign Turkey full-back Zeki Celik"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-zeki-celik-transfer-latest-everton/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Thomas Ward"
section: "Opinion"
published: "2020-08-03T15:20:20Z"
modified: "2020-08-03T15:20:20Z"
---

# Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs face stiff competition from Everton to sign Turkey full-back Zeki Celik

**Tottenham Hotspur face stiff competition from Everton to sign Turkey full-back Zeki Celik, according to [The Times](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/everton-threaten-to-disrupt-tottenham-hotspur-deal-for-turkey-full-back-zeki-celik-tqmzczjnn?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1596388507).**

Both Premier League clubs find themselves jostling for position in the race to sign Southampton star [Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-hojbjerg-transfer-latest-mourinho-zahavi/) this summer, but Carlo Ancelotti has now turned his attention to another of Jose Mourinho’s top targets.

[Duncan Castles](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/everton-threaten-to-disrupt-tottenham-hotspur-deal-for-turkey-full-back-zeki-celik-tqmzczjnn?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1596388507) claims that the Toffees have entered negotiations with Lille about signing the [£18m-valued](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/everton-threaten-to-disrupt-tottenham-hotspur-deal-for-turkey-full-back-zeki-celik-tqmzczjnn?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1596388507) defender, who moved to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy from Turkish side Istanbulspor in [2018](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/zeki-celik/profil/spieler/251075).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Celik has spent the past two seasons as Christopher Galtier’s [first-choice](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/everton-threaten-to-disrupt-tottenham-hotspur-deal-for-turkey-full-back-zeki-celik-tqmzczjnn?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1596388507) right-back at Lille, earning back-to-back top four finishes as a result.

The [14-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/zeki-celik/profil/spieler/251075) Turkish international has been earmarked by Mourinho as a player he wants to add to his squad in the summer.

[\[freshpress-poll id=”312312″\]](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/[freshpress-poll%20id=%22312312%22])

Recent reports have [revealed](https://twitter.com/RickSpur/status/1290005604681969664) that the Lilywhites will let Serge Aurier leave north London and join AC Milan, providing that they sign Celik as his replacement, with the Serie A giants preparing a £15m bid for the 27-year-old.

The 23-year-old played 23 games in Ligue 1 this season, supplying two assists, making 2.3 tackles per game, averaging 1.1 interceptions and completing 1.4 clearances on average (via [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/136481/Show/Mehmet-Zeki-%C3%87elik)).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

While [Spurs](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-transfer-boost-max-aarons-bayern/) are also in the running to sign Norwich City’s Max Aarons, the Turk may actually be a better option, as he has experience of playing [Champions League](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/136481/Show/Mehmet-Zeki-%C3%87elik) football, which is something Aarons cannot offer. Also, he is only a couple of years older than his Canaries counterpart and could be a regular starter for the next decade.

Tottenham will likely need a new defender anyway as [Aurier](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-transfer-rumours/tottenham-hotspur-spurs-ready-to-get-rid-of-serge-aurier-and-replace-him-with-max-aarons/) has fallen foul of club officials in recent months and could be on his way out the door. An aggressive [tackler](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/everton-threaten-to-disrupt-tottenham-hotspur-deal-for-turkey-full-back-zeki-celik-tqmzczjnn?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1596388507) and counter-attacking threat on the right flank, Celik has shown that he can play at the top levels of the game.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy must make a move sooner rather than later before Mourinho misses out on his key man.

***Tottenham fans, do you think Levy should sign Celik? Let us know your views in the comments below!***