Trabzonspor President Confirms Talks Over Ipswich Defender | OneFootball

Tuanzebe, Onuachu and a New Direction: Trabzonspor’s Vision for the Future

Financial Focus with Ambition

Trabzonspor President Ertuğrul Doğan cut a measured but optimistic figure during a press conference held alongside Onvo CEO Mehmet Atmaca to unveil their latest sponsorship partnership. As reported by Takvim, the message from the top was clear: this is a club trying to grow, smartly. “This strong collaboration is a collaboration between two brands whose goals overlap beyond the agreement,” Doğan explained, before expressing gratitude to the Onvo leadership.

Amid a turbulent financial climate for Turkish football, Doğan was refreshingly transparent about the club’s debt strategy. “Hopefully, we will reduce the debt to under 2 billion TL,” he said. “You see the debts of our competitors, they have reached 18 billion TL… We had to do this in order not to cause these problems to the community.”

Such financial prudence, paired with a sense of long-term sporting ambition, is part of a calculated project. “After we get the debts under control, I have the summit in mind. Someone had to take action on this debt,” Doğan added.

Transfer Policy Backed by Long Conversations

Doğan’s transfer comments hinted at a highly hands-on and detailed recruitment process in collaboration with manager Fatih Tekke. “Without exaggeration, we talk about transfers for 6–7 hours a day with our coach and team,” he stated. “We do not have the luxury of making mistakes.”

The president clarified speculation surrounding various names: “Christos Zafeiris is not on our agenda, Albert Groanbek is not, Mamadou Sarr is not, Timo Werner is not.” However, some names were positively identified, including defender Axel Tuanzebe. “Axel Tuanzebe is also a player that the scouting team and our coach like, we are talking.”

Photo: IMAGO

Striker Paul Onuachu is another being seriously considered: “It’s on our agenda. We’re discussing it. Hopefully we’ll complete it soon.”

Others, like Romulo and Edin Visca, are part of a vision blended with coach preference and strategic timing. “Romulo is a player we like but there is no development yet,” while “Fatih Tekke wants Edin Visca to be kept in the team… He will add a lot to Trabzonspor in the upcoming period with his experience.”

No Offers, No Rush for Uğurcan

The future of captain Uğurcan Çakır was again up for discussion. Despite ongoing rumours, Doğan was categorical: “What crosses my mind is that he will quit football at Trabzonspor… There is no official offer from any club at the moment.”

He also criticised media bias, saying: “The press is sensitive to the captains of Istanbul teams, but this is not the case for Uğurcan Çakır! Hopefully, they will show respect to Uğurcan as well.”

Legacy and Loyalty in Güneş

Veteran manager Şenol Güneş was also referenced, with Doğan setting the record straight on his involvement: “He thinks that working within the club would not be suitable for him at the moment. We respected this… Şenol Güneş is a great Trabzonspor lover.”

Doğan’s calm tone suggests a president in control, one prepared to respect past legacies while building a future rooted in realism and loyalty.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Ipswich fans, the mention of Axel Tuanzebe in Trabzonspor’s transfer plans instantly grabs attention. Having seen Tuanzebe’s resurgence in the Championship under Kieran McKenna, Town fans know first-hand the value he brings: strong in duels, composed on the ball, and a vocal leader at the back. That Trabzonspor’s scouting team and coach “like” him and are “talking” tells us how much his reputation has bounced back this season.

Whether or not a deal progresses, it’s a mark of how far Tuanzebe has come in a short space of time. Ipswich took a calculated gamble on him, and it’s paid off. Any potential departure would sting, particularly as the club prepares for life in the Premier League. Losing a centre-back of his calibre, just as we step onto the top-flight stage, would create a noticeable gap.

What stands out overall from Trabzonspor’s approach is the discipline. Ipswich fans have become familiar with smart recruitment, but seeing a club talk openly about 6–7 hours of daily transfer meetings and meticulous shortlisting (while knocking down baseless rumours) is something we’d love from our own boardroom. It’s how sustainable success is built, through clarity, collaboration, and controlled ambition.