Newcastle United have agreed terms over a £13.1million deal for Besiktas midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup, according to Fotospor.
The Turkish site claim that the Magpies have had a bid accepted for the 25-year-old but negotiations are continuing over a sell-on clause.
Fotospor report that Besiktas are in discussions with his ex-club Arsenal over the fee, which the Turkish club are keen to be reduced from i£4.3million to £1.3million six years after he left the Premier League giants to head to the Super Lig in 2012.
OPINION
Ozyakup is no stranger to football on British shores after spending four years at Arsenal in his late teens. He only made the senior side twice for the Premier League giants but he has grown and developed since returning to his native Turkey and has become a talisman for Besiktas. The central midfielder, who can also operate as a number ten, has been directly involved in 77 goals for the club – 27 strikes and 50 assists – which is an impressive tally for someone in his position. He did not score in the recently completed domestic season as he played predominantly in a deep-lying playmaker role, but still weighed in with eight assists. It is this creative ability and dynamism in the middle of the park that has attracted strong Premier League interest. But, be warned. The Turkish media have a history of talking up deals and making them sound as if they are closer than they are. Talk of an agreement between Besiktas and Newcastle over the transfer fee could well be a little far-fetched.
