Besiktas have no plans to sell star striker Cyle Larin in the transfer window despite interest from Premier League rivals Everton and West Ham United, president Ahmet Nur Cebi has told Fanatik.
In 2018, the Toffees found out first-hand that a superb track record in Turkey can’t always be replicated on English shores.
Cenk Tosun set the Merseysiders back a staggering £27 million after firing Besiktas to a pair of Super Lig titles. Three years on, his tally of goals in an Everton shirt stands at a measly nine.
So when Fanatik reported in February that Everton were interested in a forward who also tasted domestic success with the Istanbul giants, alarm bells were ringing on the blue half of Stanley Park.
Everton will hope Larin does better than Tosun
Canada international Larin scored 25 goals for club and country in 2020/21 but, as Tosun will tell you, the Premier League is a different challenge altogether.
According to Besiktas’ president, however, no amount of money will convince the Super Lig champions to cash in on a striker once tipped for the top by former Orlando City teammate and Brazil legend Kaka.
“There’s an offer for Larin,” Cebi explains. “But we don’t intend to sell him.
“We want to keep our squad (together).”
West Bromwich Albion failed to sign Larin five months ago before turning to another Istanbul-based goalscorer in the shape of Mbaye Diagne.
However, whether Larin would have kept the Baggies in the Premier League – putting away the sort of chances Diagne wasted – is anyone’s guess.
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