---
title: "Everton: Two clubs battling for Cenk Tosun"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/cenk-tosun-besiktas-al-hilal-transfer-battle/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Everton"
published: "2022-02-15T17:35:48Z"
modified: "2022-02-15T17:35:48Z"
---

# Everton: Two clubs battling for Cenk Tosun

**Everton’s Cenk Tosun is the subject of a ‘transfer war’ between Super Lig outfit Besiktas and Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal, according to Turkish news outlet [Takvim](https://www.takvim.com.tr/spor/2022/02/14/besiktasin-kadrosuna-katmak-istedigi-cenk-tosuna-al-hilal-kancasi-5-milyon-euro-maas-ve-2-yillik-sozlesme-teklif-etti).**

### The lowdown

It was Besiktas who sold the Turkey striker to Everton for [£27m](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42567472) back in January 2018. He signed a four-and-a-half-year contract upon his arrival at Goodison Park, and that deal is [due to expire this summer](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cenk-tosun/profil/spieler/45671), leaving him free to negotiate pre-contract terms with foreign clubs.

Tosun, who was out until November after suffering a patella rupture, has played a mere [11 minutes of football](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cenk-tosun/leistungsdaten/spieler/45671) for the Toffees this season. He did feature in the matchday squad last weekend against Leeds United, but Frank Lampard left him on the bench.

### The latest

As per [Takvim](https://www.takvim.com.tr/spor/2022/02/14/besiktasin-kadrosuna-katmak-istedigi-cenk-tosuna-al-hilal-kancasi-5-milyon-euro-maas-ve-2-yillik-sozlesme-teklif-etti), Al-Hilal have reportedly offered Tosun a two-year contract worth €5m (£4.2m) per year, which comes to approximately £80,500 per week. That would be a healthy 25% increase on the [£60,000-a- week](https://www.spotrac.com/epl/everton-fc/payroll/) he is currently earning at Everton.

However, Besitkas, are also determined to bring him back and will ‘use all their trump cards’ in a bid to do so.

Tosun is expected to make a decision on his next destination in June, although it seems that staying at Everton is out of the question.

### The verdict

It’s hard to dress up the signing of Tosun as anything other than a comprehensive failure.

The 30-year-old ranks among Everton’s [top 20 most expensive signings](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-everton/transferrekorde/verein/29) but he has only made [61 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cenk-tosun/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/45671/verein/29) in four years, contributing a mere [11 goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cenk-tosun/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/45671/verein/29).

Sam Allardyce, the Blues’ manager at the time, confidently declared that Tosun was the [‘best in Europe’](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42586383) in his price bracket. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish also dubbed him an [‘excellent’](https://tbrfootball.com/club-chairman-admits-he-could-look-to-sign-excellent-everton-player-this-summer/) player after he sealed a loan move to Selhurst Park in 2020, but it simply hasn’t worked out for the striker in England.

**In other news, [Everton could sign this defender](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-transfer-rumours/everton-transfer-news-toffees-could-sign-sergio-gomez/)**