Newcastle sent scouts to watch Fenerbahce goalkeeper Altay Bayindir against Gaziantep on Monday, according to Turkish outlet Takvim.
Analysts from Ajax, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa were also said to be examining the 22-year-old firsthand.
Bayindir makes a rare mistake as Premier League suitors watch on
Fenerbache ran out 3-1 winners on the night to close the gap on league leaders Besiktas to four points.
However, Bayindir blundered under scrutiny, fumbling an Alexandru Maxim free-kick over the line on 65 minutes to gift Gaziantep an equaliser. Former West Ham striker Enner Valencia and Sinan Gumus ultimately bailed him out with subsequent goals.
It was a rare blip in a season which has seen Bayindir graduate from Turkey’s under-21s to the senior squad. He has kept 10 clean sheets in 32 Super Lig appearances, conceding 30 goals.
Bayindir has two years left on his contract with the Istanbul outfit and is valued at just over £12m by Transfermarkt. He was singled out for praise in a tweet from Fenerbahce team-mate Mesut Ozil back in February, with the World Cup winner giving ‘special thanks‘ to the youngster for one particularly strong performance.
Transfer Tavern verdict
What do you do when a young talent you’re watching falters under pressure – cross out his name for the shortlist because you value composure, or give them another chance based on their otherwise strong form?
Bayindir has caught the eye for a reason, and clubs could miss out on a talented player with a high ceiling if they jump to conclusions.
After Steve Bruce restored a fit-again Martin Dubravka to the side, Karl Darlow could feasibly push for a move in the summer. He knows he’s good enough to be a number one keeper elsewhere, having actually posted more saves per match than his Slovakian colleague this season (3.4 to 3.3).
That could open the backup role at Newcastle, and perhaps Bayindir is being eyed as a long-term successor to the 32-year-old Dubravka, so he shouldn’t be dismissed solely on the basis of his recent error.
In other news, Newcastle have been told not to shell out more than £15m on another transfer target.
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