The agent of Fenerbahce midfielder Ozan Tufan has confirmed his client was very close to joining Crystal Palace in January 2018 before the Premier League side decided to sign Alexander Sorloth instead.
The Turkish midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Selhurst Park during that transfer window, but Cenikli said his move collapsed when they were are about to fly to England to complete the loan deal.
Speaking to Sabah, Utku Cenikli said Palace changed their mind with Turfan at the very last minute because of an injury to their forward Bakary Sako: “Ozan was very close to joining Crystal Palace in 2018. We were about to complete the deal but Palace informed us the deal is off at the last minute.
“After Bakary Sako got injured they said they have changed the priority and went for an attacker instead, and they signed Sorloth.”
A year after his failed Palace move, Tufan was loaned out to Alanyaspor and he has returned as a completely new player for Fenerbahce.
This season the midfielder has been one of the standout performers for the Yellow Canaries and again has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, along with Leicester City and Southampton.
He recently signed a new deal which will keep him at the Kadikoy until June 2023 but there are reports he has a €20m buyout clause.
