Why Leicester City should look at Burak Ince as one for the future

According to claims from Turkish outlet Fotospor, as cited by Leicestershire Live, Leicester City have been credited with an interest in teenage breakout star Burak Ince, who currently plies his trade with Altinordu in the Turkish second tier.

The 15-year-old is still very much a kid but he has made eyeballs turn with a string of fine displays since making the transition from the academy to the senior ranks at the start of the ongoing campaign.

Apart from Leicester City, reigning Premier League champions Man City have also been alerted to the starlet’s progress in his breakthrough season, while Ligue 1 high-flyers Lille and Bundesliga outfit Freiburg are also keeping tabs on the Turk. (h/t Leicestershire Live)

Burak Ince started his career in the youth ranks of hometown club Manisaspor before switching to Altinordu in 2015 to continue his development and the fact that he has already progressed through to the senior level at the tender age of 15 is indicative of some serious potential. 

The 15-year-old, who is essentially a central midfielder by trade, has also illustrated the versatility to play in a more attacking role further up the pitch. Ince has already made a total of 6 appearances for Altinordu in all competitions, scoring and assisting one apiece. 

As per the report, Leicester City are ready to put an offer worth €1.5million on the table to prise the youngster away from his homeland but Altinordu president, Seyit Mehmet Ozkan, who rated the player very highly, is not willing to let him depart for anything less than €3.5million. 

Hence, the Foxes have to revaluate their offer if they are really serious in their pursuit of the Turkish U-16 international and with Man City also very much in the race for Burak Ince, they should try to get themselves on the front foot in the race to land the youngster. 

Burak Ince looks like a future star in the making at this stage of his career and his transition to senior football at such a tender age, be it in the lowly Turkish second-tier, speaks volumes of his prodigious talent. 

To put things into perspective, it should be a no-brainer for Leicester City to go all out in their pursuit of the 15-year-old Turkish starlet in the near future as the Foxes could have a gem on their hands if he goes on to fulfil his potential in the years to come. 

Of course, Ince wouldn’t be challenging for a first-team role at the King Power stadium even if a move does materialize but the acquisition of a bright emerging prospect is always a welcome sign for any club.

The Foxes should look at him as someone who could possibly increase competition for places in the youth ranks and then eventually climb up the ladder to the U-18s and the U-23s before staking a claim for a senior call-up. 

Indeed, the process of transition to the senior ranks is not as straightforward as it is in the Turkish second-tier but Ince is a special talent and one would expect him to shine in the future.

The rise of academy starlets like Ben Chilwell, Hamza Choudhury and Harvey Barnes is indicative of a clear pathway from the Leicester youth ranks to the senior level and the 15-year-old Ince might also get his chance to impress if he continues his development down the right path. 

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Interestingly, one of the stars of Leicester’s first-team this term, Caglar Soyuncu, rose through the youth ranks of Altinordu before making his switch to Freiburg and eventually to the Premier League. 

Verdict

All in all, Leicester City making a move for Burak Ince would be a step in the right direction and one that might go on to pay rich dividends in the future.