Crystal Palace are monitoring the Besiktas striker but aren’t the only other Premier League team in the hunt.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed to Sky Sports that the club has scouted Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun ahead of the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old has scored 52 goals in 125 games for Besiktas to put himself on the radar of Palace, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, according to The Sun.
However, Hodgson has claimed that the Eagles have not held any serious discussions with Besiktas over the player and that a potential deal is still a long way away.
“I know him, he plays in the Champions League,” Sky Sports quotes Hodgson as saying. “The club have watched him, yes. I don’t think there’s been any further contact between the clubs, I’d be surprised if that’s the case.
“At the moment I have no information whatsoever that we are going to sign Cenk Tosun so if tomorrow the chairman says to me I’ve got you a player, Cenk Tosun, I shall be as surprised as you are.”
A centre-forward will be one of Hodgson’s priorities next month with Christian Benteke, his only recognised striker, having only scored once in the Premier League all season.
Newcastle, who have failed to find the net in five of their last nine outings, are equally desperate for a goalscorer and will be encouraged to hear that the door is still open for Tosun.
The Daily Mail understand that Besiktas want £18m for their top scorer – a price which might be out of Newcastle’s reach unless the proposed takeover of the club is concluded.
Palace, meanwhile, should have funds to spend in the New Year after a lean summer in which their only major recruit was defender Mamadou Sakho for £26m – fee reported by BBC Sport.
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