Everton linked with Besiktas midfielder
With the focus on the upcoming pre-World Cup international friendlies, it’s been a relatively quiet week for Everton on the transfer front.
But there are still continuing rumours about possible additions to Everton’s squad in the summer.
Having been linked with a move for Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere, the latest possible addition mentioned is Besiktas’s Oguzhan Ozyakup.
Ozyakup is a former team-mate of Everton striker Cenk Tosun. According to Turkish-football.com, the Blues have made tentative enquires about the Turkish international although nothing formal has been agreed.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who is out of contract in the summer, has been a key part of the Besiktas team that has won the last two Turkish league titles. He has also made six assists so far this season for Besiktas.
A former Arsenal youth product, he would of course be re-united with Tosun, which would presumably be a further reason why the transfer might have a good chance of going ahead.
And as well as coming on a free transfer, Ozyakup has a Dutch passport so would have no work visa issues either.
Although this speculation is so far just that, strengthening midfield should in my view certainly be a major focus for whoever has control over Everton’s transfer dealings this summer.
I think there are some good players to be found in places like Turkey, which is certainly becoming quite a fertile ground in football terms.
Everton should be looking at these countries for potential new recruits, not least because the fees for players from more established leagues are so prohibitive.
At any rate we’ll have to wait and see if this one turns out to be anything other than just idle gossip.
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Moving on to other transfer-related matters there have been some important developments regarding one of Everton’s players who is on loan this season.
The Liverpool Echo highlights one of them, left-back Anthonee Robinson, currently at Bolton Wanderers, who has been called up for the US national team as a result of his performances this season.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed an excellent campaign at the Championship club and is leading the team in assists so far, not bad for a full-back.
His form is also significant in that it has a bearing in Everton’s search for a successor to Leighton Baines.
Next: Which Blues players are World Cup bound?
But if Robinson can translate this form to the Premier League stage, Everton might be able to save themselves a small fortune in fees and have their long-term replacement for Baines.