Former Arsenal youngster set to become key man at Besiktas

Arsenal have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Besiktas playmaker Oguzhan Ozyakup.

Oguzhan Ozyakup is set to have a key role in Senol Gunes’ Besiktas side this season according to Eurosport TR.

The Turkish international midfielder has featured heavily over the pre-season in a number 10 role.

The 22-year-old midfielder will be deployed as a play-maker competing with Jose Sosa who also plays the same role.

Ozyakup and Sosa may however, both have to help out in central midfield over the first half of the season due to Tolgay Arslan and Veli Kavlak both being ruled out with injuries.

The 22-year-old midfielder had two goals and 11 assists in all 40 appearances for the Istanbul giants last season but struggled for a regular starting role.

Özyakup joined Beşiktaş from Arsenal in 2012 for a fee of €500,000.

The Turkish Under-21 midfielder is the product of the AZ Alkmaar academy and Arsenal FC academies. Özyakup signed for Arsenal on schoolboy forms on 1 September 2008 from AZ Alkmaar.

Özyakup played a major role in Arsenal’s Under-18s side that won the Premier Academy League title in 2009 and captained the Dutch side to the final of the 2009 Under-17 European Championships before switching allegiances to the Turkish national team.

The Turkish international midfielder has a total of 11 goals and 23 assists in 99 appearances for Beşiktaş in all competitions.

See More
Arsenal star Ozil predicts more Turkish players to join Premier League: Five potential candidates
Three Man Utd players who could join Van Persie & Nani in Turkey