Transfer Rumours

Besiktas officials flying to Newcastle to negotiate Mitrovic transfer – Reports

Aleksandar Mitrovic could be set for a move to Turkey according to reports on Tuesday morning.

Talks have already taken place between the striker’s agent and Besiktas officials the report claims.

Fotospor say that the Turkish champions are now going to move the transfer along with club officials travelling to Tyneside this week to discuss a transfer with Newcastle United.

Mitrovic only got 11 starts in the Championship last season and clearly looks to have no future at the club, so the only way forward looks to be for Rafa and Newcastle to try and move the Serbian international out of the club in the most financially beneficial way possible.

As Newcastle’s highest earner that could prove difficult unless the player is prepared to potentially agree lower wages elsewhere and/or NUFC to take a massive hit on the £14m they paid Anderlecht two years ago.

The Besiktas club officials said to be coming to Newcastle for talks are (Director of Football) Ali Naibi and Umut Guner.

The Fotospor report says that the initial talks have been helped by the fact that the Besiktas officials have a close relationship with Nenad Jestrovic.

Jestrovic played in Turkey before ending his playing days and now acts as Mitrovic’ agent.

The report appears to indicate that Besiktas would be looking at a permanent transfer but if indeed there is substance to this Turkish newspaper story, whether a loan or permanent deal may rest largely on what Newcastle will be holding out for in terms of a transfer fee.

A permanent deal would surely be far preferable, as the loan deals this past season for the likes of Emmanuel Riviere and Siem de Jong, have seen their stock/value fall even further after struggling to get regular first team football for PSV and Osasuna.

Besiktas have just won the league title and so could offer Mitrovic the prospect of Champions League football, as well as having the additional finances to help pay for any deal.

Previous reports had claimed that Fenerbahce had also registered an interest in the Newcastle striker.

Maybe the most likely exit plan for the former Anderlecht forward will be a loan deal with a permanent transfer clause based on appearances.

The ability to move players such as Mitrovic on, could play a major part in Rafa Benitez’ ability to stretch his transfer budget far enough to bring in the quality of players needed for the Premier League this coming season.