According to The Pitch Prospect, Besiktas are interested in Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier and Manchester United’s Altay Bayindir.
The goalkeeper pair have had very limited playing time this season and the Turkish giants could offer them a way out.
4
4
Meslier has not made a single appearance in the Premier League or any other competition for Leeds this season.
Manager Daniel Farke has clearly preferred Karl Darlow and summer signing Lucas Perri over the Frenchman.
However, it is believed that the 25-year-old goalkeeper is reluctant to move to Besiktas.
Bayindir has now made six appearances for Man United in the top flight and has not appeared in any other competition.
He started the first six games of the season under Ruben Amorim as Andre Onana was absent and left the club on loan to Trabzonspor in September.
But since the Red Devils signed current goalkeeper Senne Lammens, Bayindir has been back on the bench.
The 27-year-old now has a potential chance to return to Turkey and join the 21-time Turkish Süper Lig winners.
He left his home country to join United in 2023 and moved from Besiktas’ rivals Fenerbahce three years ago.
Any transfer decision must be made quickly as the Turkish transfer window closes on Friday, February 6th.
Besiktas currently have three goalkeepers in their squad, with Ersin Destanoglu starting most games between the posts.
4
On the way home?
Bayindir hopes to secure more regular game time ahead of the World Cup in the summer.
He has won 11 caps for Turkey, but played second fiddle to Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir for the national team.
Therefore, he may believe that a move back to his home country could not only help improve his playing time but also boost his hopes of being drafted.
Bayindir previously spent four years at Fenerbahce, having also spent his entire professional career in Turkey.
In total, he made 145 appearances for the club and is therefore more than experienced player in Turkish football.
Should Man United sell him, experienced goalkeeper Tom Heaton would be forced to become Lammens’ replacement.
4
Honest admission
As for Meslier not being interested in leaving Leeds, his manager Farke stood by him just before the January window.
Meslier has had a difficult few months for the Whites, having been ruled out for the run-in period last season due to several errors.
Since then he has not played a game this season and has only appeared on the bench five times as a substitute.
Speaking about his goalkeeper in December, Farke said: “I think so highly of him and I think he’s a goalkeeper full of potential… to have played so many games at Championship and Premier League level at such a young age is remarkable.”
“We also needed all of our goalkeepers in the matchday squad so far; we have had injuries and illnesses, so there are no plans to do anything.
“Of course that can change in January if someone still wants to leave due to a situation… but there is no active desire on my part at all to change my goalkeeping squad.”