OPINION
Newcastle United’s interest in signing Besiktas midfielder Ogazhun Ozyakup is long-standing.
Has the door opened the furthest yet for a summer deal after fresh reports that the Turkish club are eyeing a replacement for the 25-year-old lynchpin of their team?
That certainly appears to be the case after Sky Sports reported on their website today (Monday) that Besiktas are interested in signing Everton playmaker Davy Klaassen on a season-long loan in 2018-19.
Klaassen endured a wretched debut campaign at Goodison Park after arriving for £24million from Ajax in the summer of 2017.
He rejected a January move to Napoli but if he wants to resurrect his career, the Holland international might need to spend next season away from Everton.
Klaassen will likely first get an idea of what new boss Marco Silva thinks of him before agreeing to leave, either on loan or permanently, but his game does not appear ideally suited to the pace and rhythm of the Premier League.
Newcastle could be the beneficiaries if Besiktas can strike a deal with Everton.
Turkish site Fotospor claim the north-east giants have had a £13.1million bid accepted for Ozyakup but have not yet sealed a deal as negotiations are continuing over a sell-on clause.
The report is slightly confusing, as the Turkey international is out of contract at the end of the month, although separate reports have stated he could sign a new Besiktas deal before leaving anyway.
Certainly, Newcastle are in need to a No10 who can create the play and unlock defences in the final third.
Jonjo Shelvey is a fine central midfield with an outstanding passing range but he is more of a quarterback who pings 60-yard passes from in front of the defence, rather than codebreaker higher up the field.
Ozkayup, who spent four years at Arsenal in his teens, has an excellent record in Turkey, and has supplied 50 assists as well as scored 27 goals for Besiktas in the last six years.
There will be fresh hope at Newcastle he is on his way, as the Turkish club look to Everton for a replacement.
