Arsenal Transfer News: Freiburg Say Caglar Soyuncu Rumours 'Total Nonsense'

Freiburg director Jochen Saier has responded to rumours centre-back Caglar Soyuncu is set to agree a move to Arsenal, describing the speculation as "total nonsense," adding there's yet to be contact from the London club. 

Saier responded in Bild (h/t Goal's Chris Burton) to claims made by the president of Soyuncu's former club Altinordu, Mehmet Ozkan—who suggested a move was on the verge of being finalised. 

The Freiburg director said: "Ozkan can know little about the overall scenario. This is total nonsense. Arsenal did not contact me, and there is no offer."

Goal's Ronan Murphy provided context for Ozkan's quotes:

Soyuncu, 21, moved to Freiburg in the summer of 2016 and made 25 appearances for the club in his maiden Bundesliga term, helping them finish seventh in Germany's top flight, their best result in four years.

Arsenal's defence has been a weak point once again this season, and BT Sport's Ian Darke saw it as the defining feature of their UEFA Europa League challenge ending at Atletico Madrid's hands on Thursday:

Shkodran Mustafi has been up and down in form since joining from Valencia in 2016, while Laurent Koscielny is starting to show signs of age at 32 and faces a difficult summer after reportedly tearing his Achilles, per Sky Sports.

Per Mertesacker will also need replacing when he joins Arsenal's academy as a coach this summer, and commentator Kevin Hatchard has described Soyuncu as a defender with big potential:

Nacho Monreal has impressed in a more central capacity at times this term but is also ebbing toward his twilight years at 32. That leaves Calum Chambers, 24, Rob Holding, 22, and Konstantinos Mavropanos, 20, as the current up-and-comers.

Emre Sarigul of Turkish-Football.com said Altinordu is a well-regarded factory of youth talent, although Soyuncu may still be deemed too rough around the edges after only three seasons of senior football:

Signing the Turkey international could mean one of Arsenal's emerging defenders leaving the club on loan or permanently, considering there's also need for a more senior, higher-quality signing in central defence.