According to reports from Daily Post, Everton are set to battle it out with a host of top European clubs for the signature of Besiktas captain Oguzhan Ozyakup this summer.
The Daily Post claims that the 26-year-old central midfielder was linked heavily with a move to Goodison Park last summer but he opted to stay with Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig.
If the Toffees are really serious about getting their hands on the Turk in the summer window, they would need to fend off interest from some big clubs like Marseille, Valencia and Lazio, the Daily Post understands.
A youth product of Arsenal, Ozyakup made only a couple of senior competitive appearances for the Gunners before joining Besiktas in 2012. He has plied his trade with the Turkish giants ever since and has carved out a reputation for himself in his homeland as an effective leader and a one-club player.
Ozyakup, who is currently into his seventh season at Besiktas, has racked up a staggering 247 appearances for the Turkish giants in all competitions, accumulating 30 goals and 56 assists in the process. A full international for Turkey since 2013, the 26-year-old has earned 41 caps for his nation at the senior international level.
Everton’s interest in Oguzhan Ozyakup should please the fans at Goodison Park given that the Toffees need to invest in their central midfield options this summer. Idrissa Gana Gueye was a standout performer in the midfield this past season but the Senegalese ace has been linked with a move elsewhere and his departure would leave the Toffees with a massive void to fill.
Morgan Schneiderlin and youngster Tom Davies have only played a bit-part role under manager Marco Silva this term and it is still unclear whether either of them is capable of consistently delivering the goods week-in-week-out for a club that is supposed to challenge for Europe next season. Striking a permanent deal for Barcelona loanee would solve plenty of problems for Everton but the Portuguese international’s future at Goodison Park still remains very much up in the air.
To put things into perspective, Everton can certainly do with another quality central midfielder in their ranks. Oguzhan Ozyakup is a good enough player with loads of experience at the highest level and the Toffees have every reason to look at him as a viable option in the summer. He doesn’t necessarily need to be a world-beater but the Toffees should relish having a creative central midfielder like him in their ranks if they fail to strike a deal for Gomes.
Noted for his energetic presence and slick passing in the middle of the park, Ozyakup has the versatility to switch between defensive, box-to-box and attacking roles in the midfield. The 26-year-old has a good technique on the ball, which not only allows him to be comfortable in possession but also bring others into play with his quick passing and impressive distribution.
Blessed with a bagful of trickery and excellent vision, the Turk knows how to create his own space and pick out the right pass to set his team on the front foot, while also having the required presence of mind and anticipation to get into the right positions during the build-up to the attacks.
While he is more than capable of playing between the lines and ripping the opposition apart with his incisive and intelligent passing, the Turk also excels with his ability to respond to the transitions in play and often succeeds in cutting out attacks.
Furthermore, he is a recognised leader in the midfield and his charismatic presence allows the others to play around him, although he might not necessarily play a similar role at Everton.
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Ozyakup won’t be the perfect replacement for Gana Gueye should the Senegalese depart in the summer but can be a very useful squad player at Goodison Park. It is a no-brainer that the Toffees need more depth and quality in their squad to close the gap on the top-six and signing Ozyakup would be a step in the right direction.