Cenk Tosun rejected a transfer to Besiktas this summer that would have seen the striker accept a wage worth £1.7m-a-year less than his Everton contract, according to Fotospor.
Besiktas explored signing the Turkey international during the off-season after hiring Tosun on loan for the latter half of last term. Unfortunately, his return to Vodafone Park proved short-lived, after rupturing his patella tendon and requiring surgery in April.
Tosun is now working night and day to build fitness and will soon re-join the Everton squad in training. His agent Erkut Sogut confirmed to Fanatik the 30-year-old’s progress, as he chases a place in the Turkey squad again.
With the Qatar World Cup edging closer, Fotospor claim Tosun also wants to leave Everton and re-join Besiktas in January. He could have joined the Black Eagles this summer, but turned down the proposed permanent transfer for two reasons.
Firstly, Tosun chose to continue his rehabilitation at Everton rather than Besiktas, as he will not feature until mid-November. But secondly, and potentially more importantly, the Super Lig outfit only offered him a €1.5m-a-year (£25k-p/w) contract before any bonuses.
Fotospor note Tosun earns €3.5m-a-year (£58k-p/w) at Everton, on a deal that will expire in June. Yet it is suggested he will not see out the remaining 10-months, and instead leave for Istanbul in January. With the sense that he will receive more minutes at Besiktas than at Goodison Park during a World Cup year.
Everton pay cost of Walsh error after Tosun snubs Besiktas move
Everton always faced a struggle to sell Tosun this summer, given the injury he sustained while on loan at Besiktas. Few sides would have been willing to sign a high-earning player who cannot feature, potentially, until months into the season.
Yet Besiktas, supposedly, were, but Everton paid the price of Steve Walsh’s error handing Tosun a lucrative contract. The Turkey forward was one of the Toffees’ former Director of Football’s final signings when bought in January 2018.
Clearly, Tosun was unwilling to give up more than two-thirds of the pay Walsh guaranteed, knowing he would not play. Thus, not working toward activating the add-ons the Black Eagles wanted to include in any contract at Vodafone Park.
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