Crystal Palace made a bid for Besiktas centre-forward Tosun on transfer deadline day but a move to Premier League rivals Everton is all but done.
Cenk Tosun will be an Everton player by the end of this week.
According to The Sun, the Turkish centre-forward was at The Toffees’ Finch Farm training ground on Wednesday to complete his medical and discuss personal terms ahead of a £25 million move from Super Lig champions Besiktas.
Tosun has fired Besiktas to successive league titles and was one of the standout players in this season’s Champions League group stage, his four goals and two assists helping the Istanbul giants cruise into the knockout rounds where they will face Bayern Munich.
It looks increasingly likely, however, that Senol Gunes’ side will be taking on the Bavarians without their talismanic centre-forward.
But though Besiktas will be disappointed to see Tosun leave, Crystal Palace will also have greeted reports of his impending Everton with a great deal of disappointment.
Palace have been linked the 26-year-old even longer than Everton and, according to Turkish outlet Milliyet, saw a bid of £10 million rejected on the final day of the summer transfer window.
Despite Roy Hodgson bringing about a dramatic upturn of form at Selhurst Park, The Eagles’ wings have been clipped by a lack of a prolific goalscorer. Christian Benteke, top scorer last season, has just one this and there is a lack of quality in reserve.
And while Palace were hopeful of reviving a deal in January, it seems they were wasting their time. Because NTV Sport claims that Tosun never had any intention of moving to Selhurst and will instead sign a four-year contract with Everton.
It seems Palace have spent the last few months chasing a player who was never going to arrive.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
