According to sources in Turkey, Newcastle are prepared to offer up to £20 million for Besiktas forward Cenk Tosun, after his impressive performances in the Champions League this season – in which he’s notched four goals and two assists.
Reports claim that officials from the club are prepared to fly out to Turkey in order to wrap up a deal for the 26-year-old. £20 million is believed to be a suitable offer for Tosun, although Besiktas are somewhat unwilling to sell one of their star performers midway through the campaign.
Outside of the Champions League, Tosun has also scored respectably in domestic competitions, scoring six and assisting one, and his eye for goal could prove vital for a Newcastle team who have seen erratic performances from their strikers this season – with Joselu, Dwight Gayle, and Alexander Mitrovic scoring just four goals between them.
Former Marseille striker André-Pierre Gignac has been lined up as a possible replacement for Tosun, whose agent has apparently already made contact with Newcastle about the possibility of moving to the Premier League.
The Magpies were also reportedly in attendance for Besiktas’ Champions League group game against Porto, which they drew 1-1, with Tosun getting an assist for Talisca’s equaliser.
A bid from Newcastle seems imminent, and with Besiktas already through as group winners in the Champions League their journey in Europe is unlikely to go on too much longer – hence they may be more inclined to sell their prized asset.
