Newcastle United and Brighton receive ‘positive reports’ on in-form defender ahead of possible record deal

Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion have been credited with an interest in Turkish international Ferdi Kadioglu.

The attacking left-back has become a key figure at Super Lig club Fenerbache after joining them in a cut-price deal from Dutch side NEC Nijmegen during the summer of 2018. Still only 23, Kadioglu already made over 130 appearances for the Turkish giants and has featured in all three major European competitions during his five and a half year stay at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.

Kadioglu has also made progress at international level, switching his allegiances to Turkey last year after appearing for the Netherlands at youth level. After making his senior debut in a 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands last year, the versatile defender has gone on to earn a further six caps and is set to increase that tally further when his side face and Euro 2024 qualifying double header against Armenia and Croatia later this month.

Kadioglu has appeared in all but one of Fenerbache’s 24 league games so far this season and scored in their 2-1 win at Kayserispor at the weekend as his side continue their title battle with arch rivals Galatasaray. Turkish outlet Takvim have claimed both Newcastle and Brighton were represented in the stands on Saturday night and have suggested both clubs have received ‘positive reports’ on his performance during the game.

However, the report has also stated the Premier League duo will have to break the record for the highest fee received by Fenerbache if they want to bring the full-back to England. A fee of around £22m has been suggested, a figure that would surpass the £20.4m they received from Spanish giants Real Madrid in a deal that took winger Elvir Baljic to the Spanish capital during the summer of 1999.