Celtic face missing out on former Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey with Besiktas making ‘progress’ as they look to lure the free-agent Ghana international to the Turkish Super Lig.
In a wide ranging interview with NTV Spor, Besiktas sporting director Ceyhun Kazanci touched upon a number of topics. He ruled out an ‘impossible’ deal for Aston Villa misfit Philippe Coutinho, and confirmed that Manuel Lanzini would not be joining either following his departure from West Ham United.
Kavanci, however, was far more positive with regards to another player who – like Lanzini – became a free-agent last month.
Daniel Amartey left Leicester City following their relegation from the Premier League, alongside Caglar Soyuncu, Ryan Bertrand, Nampalys Mendy, Ayoze Perez and new Aston Villa signing Youri Tielemans.
TEAMtalk reported only a few weeks later that Amartey was ‘under strong consideration’ by a Celtic side who had just appointed his former Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers as Ange Postecoglou’s Parkhead replacement.
That report, however, is now two weeks old. And while the Celtic trail appears to have grown cold, talks with Besiktas are heating up.
Celtic face missing out on ex-Leicester City ace Daniel Amartey
“We have made progress on (Russian midfielder) Daler Kuzyaev and Daniel Amartey,” Kazanci explains. “The situation of both players will be known this week. We are trying to complete the transfers.”
28-year-old Amartey became a key player under Rodgers at Leicester due to his ability to play in a number of different defensive positions. The long-serving enforcer impressed periodically at centre-half, having also spent time at right-back and in defensive midfield at the King Power Stadium.
“From a professional perspective, (Amartey’s) been outstanding,” Rodgers said in 2021. “He’s played as a midfield player (and) as a full-back. And you need your outside centre-halves to be able to have no doubt they can step in and press the game. Be aggressive.
“He’s got all of that. He defends the box really well and then, with the ball, he has a real sufficient level of comfort. He can pass it.
“I’ve been absolutely delighted with him.”
Celtic have completed two signings since Rodgers’ return; Marco Tilio from Melbourne City and Odin Thiago Holm from Valerenga.
Hoops legend John Hartson is urging his old employers to bring in a physical centre-half too. Amartey, however, looks increasingly unlikely to be on his way north of the border.
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