Beşiktaş’ failed move for Newcastle United defender Jamal Lascelles was started by 2-3 agents travelling to St James Park without permission to discuss a deal.
That’s according to journalist Ali Ece, who has revealed all to Gazete Duvar following a conversation with Beşiktaş president Hasan Arat.
Lascelles was linked with a move to the Süper Lig throughout the January transfer window, with the Turkish side keen to add an experienced central defender to their squad.
Talks were believed to have taken place over the move happening, with Lascelles and his agents even reportedly sitting down for conversations at St James Park in an attempt to push things along.
A deal never ended up being finalised, though, with Newcastle refusing to let Lascelles leave on a free transfer before his contract expires in the summer and demanding a fee from Beşiktaş that they didn’t want to pay.
Thus, he remained at Newcastle until the end of the season and Beşiktaş were forced to look elsewhere before their transfer window closes on February evening.
Arat has now provided Ece with details of what went on behind the scenes, and it seems the whole process was encouraged by agents acting without anyone’s permission.
“[Newcastle] called Arat. ‘We have been friends with you for years’,” he said.
“Tell us the player you want from us and let’s talk, but our team captain is Jamaal Lascelles. Why did you send someone without asking us?”
“Upon this, Hasan Arat stated that he did not authorise anyone for transfer and said, ‘There is no such thing. 2-3 agents went to Newcastle United without any authorisation from Beşiktaş and established an agency relationship to buy Jamaal Lascelles.”
