The representative of Christian Benteke has confirmed that Besiktas are interested in the Belgium international. The 27-year-old had a tough 2017/18 season with the Eagles where he managed just three goals in the Premier League and this witnessed him being dropped from Belgium’s squad for the summer World Cup.
Besiktas head coach Senol Gunes has revealed that Anderson Talisca could be on his way to joining Liverpool during this summer’s transfer window. The Brazilian footballer has been on loan with the Turkish outfit over the past two seasons but Gunes had admitted that the Black Eagles are unlikely to re-sign him on a permanent basis from Besiktas this summer.
Premier League side Everton have reportedly made contact with the representative of Oguzhan Ozyakup regarding a possible move to Goodison Park. The Turkey international has just two months left on his contract with Besiktas but the Black Eagles are hoping to extend his contract with the promise of a buy-out clause.
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman is hoping to use the win over Portugal as a template to qualify for the European Championship in 2020. The Dutch have suffered a double setback, having failed to make the proper for Euro 2016 as well as the 2018 World Cup, but Koeman believes the future is bright for the upcoming set of players.
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has urged Justin Kluivert to continue his development at Ajax rather than pursue a big-club move during the summer. The 18-year-old is reportedly attracting interest from Manchester United, but Koeman believes the teenager is better off staying with his current club. Speaking in a pre-match press conference, he said: “I spoke to him about this,’ admitted Koeman. He’s in talks with Ajax about his contract. I think the best is for him stay in Holland because he’s only 18.”
Chelsea scout Eddie Newton has confirmed that the Blues had kept a keen interest Besiktas midfielder Oguzhan Özyakup in the past, though he admits that the Turk is more suited to Arsenal’s style of play. Ozyakup had been tipped for a return to the Emirates during the winter transfer window, but the Gunners were only willing to pay half of Besiktas’ €12m valuation for the midfielder.
Turkish giants Besiktas have reportedly identified Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck as a potential replacement for Cenk Tosun, who joined Everton earlier this month. Tosun joined the Merseyside outfit in a £27m deal, and the Istanbul outfit are now aiming to push through a potential replacement.
According to Aspor, Welbeck is the prime target on the club’s shortlist, and club president Fikret Orman is likely to open up negotiations with the Gunners over a proposed move. The England international began the campaign in fine fashion as he netted three goals prior to the first international break.
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Dick Advocaat resigned from the Netherlands’ head coach role following their 3-0 win over Romania in an international friendly this week. Memphis Depay, Ryan Babel and Luuk de Jong found the scoresheet in the second-half as Advocaat received the perfect send-off at the Arena Nationala in Bucharest.
Advocaat was tasked with the difficult job of steering Holland to the 2018 World Cup earlier this year, and he could not help them progress as they finished behind France and Sweden – the latter whom qualified for the finals after beating Italy in a two-legged play-off.
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Netherlands international Ryan Babel has said that he struggled during his time at Liverpool due to the poor handling from then-manager Rafa Benitez. The Dutch winger is currently in the ranks of Besiktas, where he has become an influential player in the starting lineup.
Speaking about his time at Anfield, Babel revealed that the change of position from Benitez did not help his chances of adapting to the Premier League, he said: “This was my first time going abroad and also living by myself. The adaptation… every day was a new surprise. I soon figured that in the Premier League they call you a flop very quick. I was only used to 4-3-3. For me as a left-winger you have also a left midfielder and a left-back behind you. But in a 4-4-2 you are basically also the left midfielder so you have to help more in defence and I wasn’t used to that. That was mostly the criticism I got, that they couldn’t trust me in defensive work.”
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Former Liverpool attacker Ryan Babel has been named in Dick Advocaat’s Netherlands squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Sweden.
Babel, who made 91 appearances for the Reds between 2007 and 2011, has hit form with Besiktas this term with goals in the Champions League games against RB Leipzig and Porto. On top, he has also managed three goals in the Turkish Super Lig, and that form has made it hard for Advocaat to ignore him for selection.
Netherlands are currently in a precarious position of missing out on the World Cup qualifiers, and Babel will hope to contribute in must-win games against Belarus and Sweden. The Flying Dutchmen are currently in a straight fight with Sweden for the playoff spot in second place, and they will have to beat them by a significant margin in order to overcome the goal difference. Continue reading