Beskitas
The Premier League’s pull on top players now has a rival in Turkey.
Mohamed Salah signed a two-year contract with Trabzonspor on 6 August after leaving Liverpool. He scored 257 goals in 442 appearances in nine years at Anfield.
Trabzonspor said Salah will earn €17 million a season. Forbes ranks him tenth among the world’s highest-paid players, with estimated earnings of $40 million this season.
The 2026 list is the first since the ranking began in 2005 to include fewer than two Premier League players. Fenerbahce signed N’Golo Kante, a former Leicester and Chelsea midfielder, in an earlier window. Leroy Sané plays for Galatasaray.
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Another Premier League midfielder could now follow that route, and Arsenal supporters will know him well.
According to Turkish outlet Aksam, Besiktas are weighing a €10m (£8.5m) bid for Newcastle United’s Joe Willock when the January window opens.
Besiktas want to address a series of injuries in midfield. Captain Orkun Kokcu was diagnosed with a partial tear in the sole of his right foot after leaving the Europa League match at Hoffenheim in October.
Willock joined Arsenal at the age of four and moved to Newcastle on loan in January 2021. He later made the move permanent. He is now 27.
Besiktas tried to sign him in the summer. Aksam reports the offer was close to €18m. Other outlets say the Turkish club tabled €7m plus €5m in bonuses.
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Besiktas president Serdal Adali told Milliyet that Newcastle asked for £20m. Other reports put the figure at €20m.
Newcastle kept Willock after Matthias Jaissle arrived as head coach and made clear he wanted him in his plans.
The timing now favours Besiktas. Willock’s contract expires in June 2027. From 1 January, he can sign a pre-contract with a club outside England.
Adali said Besiktas can sign him in January, adding: “in fact, I will sign him.”
Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, reports that Besiktas have agreed personal terms with Willock’s representatives.
Willock has started the season well. He is Newcastle’s joint-top scorer with three goals.
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