Jackson Muleka’s agent has refuted claims that the £3 million striker joined Besiktas instead of Burnley due to the superior earning power in the Turkish Super Lig, speaking to Belgian publication DH.
In truth, Jean-Willy Ngoma shouldn’t really need to rebuff such accusations.
It is well documented that Muleka missed out on a move to Turf Moor due to the lack of a requisite work permit. Ngoma confirmed as much over the weekend.
That has not stopped speculation from suggesting that the 22-year-old DR Congo international choose Besiktas over Burnley for financial reasons, however.
“(These claims are) totally false,” Ngoma responds.
Burnley miss out as Besiktas sign Jackson Muleka
Muleka, who scored 15 goals and provided seven assists on loan at Kasimpasa last season, underwent medical tests ahead of a move to Turf Moor earlier this month (The Athletic). That was, of course, until the deal got wrapped up in red tape before unravelling in double-quick time.
Not that Ngoma is particularly disappointed about how things turned out. Even if Muleka had obtained a work permit, it is far from certain that he’d have ended up in Lancashire.
“With all due respect to Burnley, sportingly, the difference is huge between the two clubs,” he adds.
“Between playing in the English second division or competing for the top spot in Turkey, there is no comparison. Jackson preferred the sports project proposed by the Besiktas.
“The English claim that Jackson preferred the money. It’s quite paradoxical to hear that when you know that Burnley loaned their Dutch striker, Wout Weghorst, to Besiktas after spending 17 million euros in January to sign him.”
Muleka, in a strange twist of fate, will be competing with the Clarets loanee for a starting place under former West Brom and Barnsley coach Valerien Ismael in Istanbul next season.
Burnley need a new striker
“(Money) was not the deciding factor in his decision,” Ngoma adds. “Besiktas showed Jackson that they believed in him. The club wants to re-claim the title next season and is counting on Jackson to achieve this.
“In addition, Jackson feels happy in Istanbul. He is perfectly acclimatised to the league following his time at Kasimpasa. For all these reasons, the choice of Besiktas was obvious to the player.”
So, where do Burnley go from here? Jay Rodriguez, Ashley Barnes and the injured Matej Vydra are the only strikers at Vincent Kompany’s disposal ahead of the opening day trip to Huddersfield Town on July 29th.
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