West Ham United will send a scout to Turkey to watch the game between Besiktas and Lyon tonight. The Premier League side have scouted the Turkish side already this season, with reports they are showing an interest in midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup, who Tottenham are said to be keen on.
CNN Turkey have confirmed West Ham will be on the scouting list for the Europa League clash, and they will be joined by several other clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04, Hannover, Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, PSV, Twente and Anderlecht.
The Turkish media outlet claim the purpose of West Ham’s trip to Istanbul is to get another lowdown on Besiktas star Ozyakup. The Turkey international has been linked with a reunion with West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, following their time together at Besiktas.
The former Arsenal youth player has also been receiving interest from other Premier League clubs, with claims in Turkey this week Tottenham Hotspur are looking to move in on the player. It was reported Tottenham Hotspur will offer Besiktas €12m for the midfielder, who it’s claimed Mauricio Pochettino ‘likes very much’.
However, cynics will say the likes of Tottenham and West Ham being linked with Ozyakup is because the player is about to enter into contract talks with his club. The midfielder’s current deal expires next summer, and it seems inevitable there would be claims of interest from other clubs.
Pochettino and Tottenham don’t really need the player, however West Ham interest is easier to believe.
