Turkish champions Besiktas are playing hard-ball over the future of Oguzhan Ozyakup with Roma joining Tottenham Hotspur in the race.
Whether Tottenham Hotspur really need another central midfielder is open to debate. After all, with Moussa Dembele, Victor Wanyama, Eric Dier, Harry Winks and even Dele Alli capable of playing in the two deep-lying positions, Mauricio Pochettino is hardly starved of options.
Yet, according to The Express, this may not prevent the manager from targeting Besiktas’ dynamic midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup in the summer. The newspaper claims that the Turkish international, a former Arsenal youth teamer, is keenly admired by Pochettino for his ability to turn defence into attack in the blinking of an eye.
However, Spurs will not be short of competition for Ozyakup’s signature. Indeed, it appears that the bidding has started early.
Fanatik report that Besiktas have already turned down an initial £10 million offer for the midfielder from Roma despite the fact he has only 12 months left on his current contract.
Furthermore, club president Fikret Orman has confirmed that the Turkish league leaders are intending to keep Ozyakup at the Vodafone Arena next season, confident as they are that they can convince him to sign a new contract.
It could be seen as good news for Tottenham that Roma have had their offer turned down. Yet, Besiktas’ hard-ball approach appears to suggest that they would have to pay way over the odds to convince the club to let Ozyakup, who inspired their title win last season with ten goals and eight assists, leave a year before he is available for free.
Spurs clearly need investment in the summer with their relatively thin squad struggling to balance domestic and European competition this season. But, after splurging inflated fees on Moussa Sissoko, Vincent Janssen and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou in 2016, you wonder whether they will be a little more cautious this time around.
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