---
title: "Crystal Palace: Eagles keen on Okay Yokuslu"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/crystal-palace-eagles-keen-on-okay-yokuslu/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Crystal Palace"
published: "2021-06-16T12:15:44Z"
modified: "2021-06-16T12:15:44Z"
---

# Crystal Palace: Eagles keen on Okay Yokuslu

**Crystal Palace and Leeds United are interested in signing Celta Vigo midfielder Okay Yokuslu, according to [El Desmarque](https://eldesmarque.com/vigo/celta/noticias/161522-batur-altiparmak-hay-tres-o-cuatro-equipos-interesados-en-okay-yokuslu), cited by [Sports Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/leeds-united-crystal-palace-well-placed-signing-agent-gives-hint-please/).**

### The Lowdown: Yokuslu profiled

Yokuslu is currently at Euro 2020 with Turkey and [started in the tournament opener against Italy](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51135482).

The 27-year-old is [primarily a defensive midfielder but can play as a centre-back or central midfielder](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/okay-yokuslu/profil/spieler/137616) when required.

He spent the second half of the 2020/21 campaign on loan at West Brom, making [16](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/okay-yokuslu/leistungsdaten/spieler/137616) appearances for the Baggies.

West Brom teammate Kyle Bartley described Yokuslu as [‘tenacious’](https://www.wba.co.uk/news/bartley-tenacious-tackler-yokuslu), whereas former Baggies boss Sam Allardyce even [compared him to Fernando Hierro](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/2021/02/24/sam-allardyce-west-brom-have-helped-okay-yokuslu-settle/).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”359401″\]

### The Latest: Palace and Leeds links

[Reports](https://sportwitness.co.uk/leeds-united-crystal-palace-well-placed-signing-agent-gives-hint-please/) abroad suggest that Celta Vigo are looking to sell Yokuslu this summer, with Palace and Leeds in the picture.

There’s also interest from a Turkish club, however, the player’s agent insisted there is no desire to move to the Super Lig this summer, seemingly giving the Eagles a boost in their attempts to sign the holding midfielder, should they firm up their interest.

\[freshpress-poll id=”360499″\]

### The Verdict: A smart McCarthy replacement?

Palace have the likes of [Luka Milivojevic, Jairo Riedewald and James McArthur on the books at Selhurst Park](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/crystal-palace/kader/verein/873), however, James McCarthy appears to be on the way out of the club, with his [deal expiring at the end of the month](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-mccarthy/profil/spieler/45333).

Yokuslu could be a shrewd replacement for the Irishman, which will then give the new Eagles manager four solid central midfield options.

He recorded a Premier League match rating average of [6.96 in his 16 appearances for West Brom](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/93805/Show/Okay-Yokuslu), as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/), a higher score than [all four Palace midfielders mentioned](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/162/Show/England-Crystal-Palace), so he could be an upgrade ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

***In other news: Many Palace fans buzz at ‘great appointment’, find out more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/crystal-palace-news/crystal-palace-fans-erupt-at-off-field-news/).***