Newcastle United have agreed terms over a deal for Besiktas midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup as the Turkish side continue negotiations with Arsenal over a sell-on clause, according to Fotospor.
The sports website from Turkey claim that the Magpies have come to an agreement over a £13.1million (€15million) fee for the 25-year-old maestro but that the agreed cash amount owed to the Gunners for his sale is under scrutiny.
It is said that Besiktas and Arsenal are talking over the fee, which is currently at £4.3million (€5million), with the Turkish side seeking a sell-on amount of £1.3million (€1.5million) instead, with the 34-cap Turkey international having left the Premier League giants to head to the Super Lig in 2012.
Good move for Newcastle?
It seems a strange decision that the Magpies would want to bring in a new midfielder with the likes of Jonjo Shelvey and Mikel Merino at Rafael Benitez’s disposal, but then again Ozyakup is much more of an attack minded maestro.
He might not have scored for Besiktas this season but he did chip in with eight assists, and his vision and technique could help create some much needed goal scoring opportunities for a Newcastle attack lacking some cutting edge.
Still, his record is nothing special and having not shone with Arsenal during his last spell in England, he is not the sort of signing that will have the Toon Army getting overly excited.
This is Futbol rating: 6.5/10
Likely to happen?
If the Magpies have indeed agreed a fee for the Turkish international then a done deal will likely not be too far behind, but with every transfer story, there needs to be a pinch of salt taken.
Newcastle are not in desperate need of a midfielder and his arrival could be dependent on the exit of one of the current options.
Still, there is no smoke without fire, and this will be a move to keep a close eye on.
This is Futbol rating: 6/10