According to several reports in Turkey today, NUFC’s head of recruitment Steve Nickson has jetted out to watch long-standing striker target Cenk Tosun in Besiktas’ Super Lig clash with Akhisar tonight and their Champions League tie with Porto on Tuesday ahead of a potential €15m January bid.
Our number one priority this winter looks set to be the signing of proven striker, and with 34 goals in his last 48 starts for Besiktas, with 4 goals in 4 Champions League games and five in five for Turkey, he seems to be exactly that.
Turkish outlets Fotomac AND NTV Spor have both suggested NUFC scouts will be in force to watch the Besiktas star over their upcoming games,
The Chronicle have responded to these rumours confirming that Tosun IS a forward who Rafa Benitez has been impressed by, but do claim that the price and our alleged offer of€15m (£13.4m) could be a stumbling block, with Besiktas’ president having made it clear that he would not accept less than €20m (£17.8m). A deal that seems far more likely if a takeover occurred by January perhaps?
It has been previously suggested that the Turkish striker is keen on a Premier League move, but it was been mentioned that he’d be open to seeing out the season with Besiktas and leaving in the summer – with their likely progression to the last 16 of the Champions League a possible factor.
Here’s a glimpse of Tosun – the player NUFC scouts look set to watch once again over the coming wee:
