‘Started negotiations’ - Newcastle United eye £16m transfer breakthrough
Newcastle United are reportedly in talks with Besiktas about a move for wonderkid Semih Kilicsoy.
The 19-year-old has already been capped four times for Turkey and is quickly becoming one of Europe’s brightest prospects. An impressive breakout year despite Besiktas’ struggles this season has attracted Premier League interest.
He debuted for the Super Lig giants less than two years ago and is now a first-team starter, taking the No.9 shirt at the start of the campaign. Capable of playing as a striker, No.10 or out wide, Kilicsoy’s versatility is an ideal fit for Eddie Howe.
Turkish media now claims the Magpies have ramped up efforts to sign the prospect before the February 4 deadline. Any formal approach would likely come once Miguel Almiron’s sale to Atlanta United is finalised.
Almiron’s exit coupled with injuries to Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes gives Howe little firepower to turn to on the bench. The Toon boss has stayed coy on incomings when grilled by the media in recent weeks.
Kilicsoy’s agent is working tirelessly to find his client a move and Newcastle must stump up around £16million. He would be the second Turkish player in the club’s history after Emre Belozoglu.
However, rival interest from Chelsea and Aston Villa should be noted. Toon chiefs were stung earlier this window by PSR restrictions, missing out on Manchester City new boy Abdukodir Khusanov as he was not prepared to wait until the summer.
Howe accepted to the media last week that Newcastle may need to wait until the summer to welcome incomings. He said: “Nothing has changed in terms of this window and my previous comments this month. “You never say never, so I'm not saying that but, in this moment, as we stand, we've not been active in terms of incomings.”