EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Fenerbahce midfielder Ismail Yuksek has a host of Premier League admirers with Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Newcastle United keeping tabs on the Turkey international.
HITC Football understands that, with Fenerbahce going head to head with Istanbul rivals Galatasaray at the top of the Super Lig table, the stellar displays of one of this season’s star performers have not gone unnoticed.
There is interest from clubs in Germany, Italy and England in the highly-regarded Ismail Yuksek.
The tough-tackling Yuksek admitted this week that Manchester United is his ‘dream’ club, having grown up as a Red Devils fanatic (TRT Spor). United, interestingly, are one of the clubs taking an interest. But they are far from the only ones.
Tottenham and Newcastle scout Ismail Yuksek
There are admirers at Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers too, even if we understand that a move to the Bundesliga or Serie A is more likely at this stage.
Yuksek has been at Fenerbahce since 2020. After spells out on loan at Balikesirspor, Adana Demirspor and Bursaspor, the late-blooming 25-year-old has finally established himself as one of the first names on the Fener team sheet.
An average of 2.5 succesful tackles per game makes Yuksek one of the best ball-winners in Turkey, statistically speaking (WhoScored). His tally of five assists, however, shows that there is another – more creative – side to Yuksek’s game.
The right-footed Yuksek is under contract until 2027. Fenerbahce may be willing to sell if the price is right, however. Lyon reportedly offered £9.5 million in January but that was not enough to twist arms in Istanbul (Le Progres).
Aston Villa and Wolves also in race
Tottenham’s interest, meanwhile, may be with the potential departure of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in mind. Newcastle remain reliant upon the masterful but irreplaceable Bruno Guimaraes in the number six spot and could lose Joelinton due to his worrying contract situation, HITC understands.
As for Aston Villa, a season-ending injury to Boubacar Kamara has forced Unai Emery to throw 20-year-old Tim Iroegbunam – a loanee at QPR last season – in at the deep end with Champions League qualification on the line.
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