Rumour Mill: Tottenham Trailing Turkish Trio?

According to Turkish-Football.com, Tottenham Hotspur have sent scouts to the Turkish Super Lig in order to watch no less than three players currently on the books at the Champions League outfit Besiktas.

Spurs scouts were reportedly present during Besiktas’ 3-1 victory over Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday to keep a close eye on not one, not two, but three players.

According to Turkish-Football.com, those three players were 26 year old Cenk Tosun, Brazilian Anderson Talisca and midfielder Oguzhap Ozyakup.

Tosun, who scored in Besiktas’ mid-week victory in Portugal, found the net 24 times last season in all competitions and reportedly came close to a move to London rivals Crystal Palace in the Summer.

As quoted by BleacherReport, the Turkish forward said this of the transfer speculation:

“Crystal Palace offered €13.5 million [£11.9 million] on transfer deadline day.”

“Had they made the bid a week earlier I would be playing in the Premier league right now.”

“I would only leave Besiktas if I made my club money and if the circumstances are right.”

“Now I’m focused on winning my third consecutive league title, playing Champions League football and focusing on international football.”

In addition to his goal on Wednesday, Tosun has also scored twice on the domestic front, seemingly hitting the peak of his form.

Turkish-Football.com has also suggested that Tottenham would have to pay a minimum of £17.6 million to sign up the 26 year old striker, a similar fee to what Spurs paid for Vincent Janssen last Summer, who is now ironically on loan at Fenerbahce in the Super Lig.

Anderson Talisca, 23, is also a loanee in Turkey, who is now entering his second season at Besiktas before his eventual return to Portuguese outfit Benfica.

The Brazilian is competent as both a midfielder and a striker, and even opened the scoring against Porto on Wednesay.

The youngster seems set to continue his fine goal-scoring form from last season [16 goals in 31 appearances], having found the net twice already this season and may be a future star for Brazil.

Talisca was linked with a move to Manchester United during the Summer transfer window, however a move to England was made impossible when Besiktas activated a second year in their loan agreement.

24 year old Oguzhan Ozyakup however, already has experience in England, having been a member of Arsenal’s youth set-up until 2012.

Nicknamed ‘Ozzie’, the attacking midfielder was linked with a return to England in July, with both Leicester City and former club Arsenal seemingly keen to sign the talented play-maker.

However, a deal never came to fruition as Besiktas President Fikret Orman revealed he would only sell the Turkish international to a team of the ‘highest level’.

“We will sell players if we receive the right offers.” Orman said, as reported by TalkSport.

“We have not received the right offer yet for Oguzhan and, as I have said before, he will only join a club of the highest level.”

“I want him to play at the highest level.”

The midfielder, who managed 5 goals and 9 assists in 38 appearances last season, has also previously been courted by Italian side Lazio.

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