Newcastle have been scouting Besiktas’ recent matches with an eye on Dorukhan Tokoz, but the Turkish holding midfielder’s efforts in the Istanbul Derby against Galatasaray on Sunday are said to have left the Magpies unimpressed, as per Aksam.
Tokoz featured for 75 minutes at the Turk Telecom Arena, but was hauled off with his side trailing by two goals in favour of former Manchester United attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa, as Senol Gunes changed his system to be more offensive.
Before his substitution, though, Tokoz had completed each of his three attempted tackles and two aerial duels, but the 5 ft 9 anchor failed to help at the top of the pitch with his two shots failing to find the target.
Multiple publications in the 22-year-old’s native country had reported our interest in the 2-cap international recently, and it was believed that our scouts would be submitting their final verdicts in the coming weeks.
Aksam’s report is not understood to be the final verdict on Tokoz, as the Istanbul-based newspaper suggest our scouts will continue to observe Besiktas’ final matches before casting their judgment, although they appear to have poured cold water on his signature.
The Super Lig season, however, only has four games remaining, with the top four all still vying for the title – Besiktas currently sit third, four points behind Galatasaray after losing 2-0 at the Turk Telecom Arena.
Representatives of Lazio and Fiorentina are also understood to be keeping a close eye on Tokoz’s efforts at the BJK Vodafone Park, but are yet to make a formal offer for someone Besiktas only signed last summer from the Turkish second-tier.
Any offer for Tokoz will also have to reach £17.1million, with Fanatik claiming Besiktas President Fikret Orman holds a €20m valuation for someone who has been considered indispensable under Gunes after dislodging long-term servants Tolgay Arslan and Oguzhan Ozyakup.