Arthur Masuaku’s Besiktas future remains up in the air with coach Senol Gunes uncertain about whether or not the West Ham United misfit will leave the Premier League outfit on a permanent basis, speaking to HaberTurk.
When Besiktas brought in a couple of high-profile loanees from English football, they did not expect to find themselves 14 points off the top of the Super Lig table by early-March.
Dele Alli’s Istanbul struggles are well-documented. But the Everton-owned playmaker is not the only one finding life at the Vodafone Arena tougher than many had expected.
Masuaku, Sabah say, can leave for just £2 million this summer. Besiktas are having cold feet about whether or not to exercise even that cut-price option-to-buy clause. The DR Congo international is producing typically inconsistent performances in his new home.
Besiktas loanee Arthur Masuaku facing uncertain West Ham future
“We don’t know what the future will be,” says Gunes, while admitting that Masuaku was much improved during Sunday’s 2-1 win over Ankaragucu.
“Today was more positive. He was good. The player may have problems behind (defensively). We will see if he stays or goes. It will be evaluated, how we carry on (with Masuaku) next year. Everything can change.”
Masuaku has played 21 times for Besiktas, scoring once and setting up three assists. The France-born left-back is due to become a free-agent in 2024. And, if he does find himself back at the London Stadium this summer, it seems highly unlikely that David Moyes – presuming he is still in charge by then – would be willing to offer Masuaku a fresh start in claret-and-blue.
Particularly after the arrival of fellow southpaw Emerson Palmieri from capital city rivals Chelsea.
“He goes forward fast. He uses the ball very well,” Turkish pundit Hamdi Aslan told Besiktas News before Christmas; explaining Masuaku’s ‘serious’ dip in form.
“Suddenly, there was an abnormal decline. There was a very rapid fall. The player who is most affected by (Besiktas’ struggles) is Masuaku.”
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