Besiktas have ruled out making a move for Cenk Tosun in January, despite frequent speculation linking him with a return.
Over the last few months, numerous reports have claimed that the Turkish club were preparing to launch a bid for their former player in January, with Tosun likely to leave Goodison Park with game time limited.
Tosun began the season out of Marco Silva’s squad, and after a string of positive substitute appearances eventually saw him return to the starting line-up, he failed to impress and was subsequently dropped again.
The 28-year old forward is regarded as a hero by Besiktas fans, and with the Super Lig club short on forward options this season, all signs had pointed to a potential return for Tosun once the winter window reopened.
However, Besiktas president Ahmet Nur Cebi has now poured cold water on that speculation, ruling out Tosun as well as several other rumoured targets.
Talking to Hayatta Besiktas Radio Station (via Sport Witness), Cebi said:
I heard rumours about Anderson Talisca, Vincent Aboubakar and Cenk Tosun returning.
None of them are true. Unfortunately, we closed these chapters. We can’t give the money they want.
Despite Besiktas taking themselves out of the running, it still looks likely that Tosun will depart in January.
Read Everton Verdict
This is just the latest twist in the tale of Tosun and Besiktas, and given how much that club’s stance apparently changes, it still wouldn’t surprise me if Tosun ended up joining the Black Eagles again next month.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin the preferred favourite at the minute, and with Moise Kean the up-and-comer, it stands to reason that Everton will let Tosun go in order to fund a new forward in January.
Crystal Palace have been linked with the forward, so he could yet remain in the Premier League, but at the very least it looks like he will be going, even if his former club are no longer interested.
