Agent of Okay Yokuslu provides update on West Brom future amid Galatasaray links
Okay Yokuslu’s agent Batur Altiparmak has shot down any chance of a potential transfer that would have seen the West Brom midfielder join Galatasaray.
The Turkish club were reportedly interested in signing the Albion midfielder this summer [Chris Lepowski, 3 September] with the Super Lig’s transfer window remaining open until Friday (15 September).
But any such move away from The Hawthorns doesn’t appear to be happening in the coming days, with Yokuslu’s agent making it clear that the 29-year-old will be staying in the Championship as neither side had discussed a potential transfer.
Speaking on beIN SPORTS on Tuesday (12 September), Altiparmak said: “There was no communication between us and Galatasaray. We were called at the beginning of the season and asked about our situation. We said that we wanted to continue our football life in England and we were not interested.
“Some Turkish clubs also asked about the situation, but we did not accept unless there was an extraordinary situation. We are determined to continue our football life in England.”
Time to improve
Yokuslu’s form, like West Brom’s own, has been patchy at times at the start of the season. But it is a real blessing that the midfielder looks set to remain at The Hawthorns beyond the end of the transfer window in Turkey as Carlos Corberan can’t afford to have his options limited any further.
Had the 29-year-old been set to make the move back to his home country, the Baggies wouldn’t have been able to add a replacement (other than a potential free agent) until the January transfer window, leaving them short of options in the middle of the park.
Question marks do remain over the Turkish midfielder’s fitness, however, as he is yet to complete an entire 90 minutes this season. Should he be as keen to continue in England as his agent has suggested, he will have to improve his fitness levels and performances.
It seems likely he will feature when the Baggies return to action against Bristol City on Saturday (16 September) and hopefully over the international break he will have done enough work with Corberan and his coaching staff to have a positive impact now he has put the speculation over his future behind him.
In other West Brom news, Tony Pulis has urged Albion to make sure they don’t let one man leave the Hawthorns