Slaven Bilic looks set to miss out on a reunion with his former Besiktas midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup with Marseille said to be leading the chase.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
The Hammers boss is targeting four “game-changer” signings this summer but has only been able to bring in veteran Manchester City right back Pablo Zabaleta so far.
Bilic has been linked with moves for a plethora of players including the likes of Joe Hart, Daniel Sturridge, Kelechi Iheanacho, Michy Batshuayi, Chris Smalling and Olivier Giroud.
Although the transfer window is still in its infancy Bilic looks set to miss out on another reported target with the news that his former midfielder at Besiktas Oguzhan Ozyakup could be set to join ex Hammer Dimitri Payet at Marseille.
According to reports from Turkish Football, the Turkey international – who only has 12 months remaining on his contract – is stalling over a new deal and could be sold to the French side for around £17 million.
The 24-year-old was at Arsenal as a youth player and has come on leaps and bounds since playing under Bilic at Besiktas, being directly involved in 69 goals from midfield – 27 goals and 42 assists.
According to Turkish newspaper Fanatik, Bilic was keen on a reunion with Ozyakup in East London, even if his priorities this summer are two top strikers.
Ozyakup (left) in action for Besiktas
West Ham fans might not be too disappointed, though, if Bilic’s last reunion with a Besiktas player is anything to go by.
He signed his former winger and Ozyakup’s club and international teammate Gokhan Tore on a season-long loan last year but he made just a handful of appearances looking woefully short of the kind of quality needed in the Premier League.
Gokhan Tore struggled at West Ham last season
Injuries did not help but the club had no intention of taking up the £10.5 million option to make Tore’s loan move a permanent one.
The club has also missed out on two more reported targets this week if media speculation is to be believed after striker Anthony Modeste left Cologne for a big money move to China while Chelsea’s Bertrand Traore is on the verge of a move to Lyon.
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