West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has praised his former student Beşiktaş midfielder Oğuzhan Özyakup likening him to a young Mesut Özil.

Bilic described the Turkish international as being in his opinion the best player in the country.

“In my opinion Oğuzhan Özyakup is the most talented and best player in Turkey. He is a young Mesut Özil look at his physique it is almost the same,” Bilic told Fanatik.

Bilic was manager of Beşiktaş for the last two seasons guiding the Eagles to the Europa League quarter-finals last season.

Özyakup is of course no stranger to Arsenal having risen through the youth ranks of the Gunners academy before a move to Beşiktaş in 2012 in pursuit of first team football.

The 22-year-old has established himself as a first team regular at the Black Eagles providing six assist and scoring once in 10 appearances in all competitions.

Beşiktaş are currently first in the Turkish Super League four points clear of Istanbul rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe who are in joint second place.

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