West Brom midfielder Okay Yokuslu is reportedly being eyed up by Turkish giants Fenerbahce, ahead of a potential summer exit from the Hawthorns.
The Lowdown: Yokuslu excels for West Brom
The Baggies have officially been relegated back to the Championship, following a disappointing return to the Premier League in 2020/21.
They essentially gave themselves too much work to do in avoiding the drop, with survival master Sam Allardyce unable to keep his side in the top flight.
One of the few positives this season has been the form of Yokuslu, however, who has excelled since joining on loan from Celta Vigo in the winter transfer window, providing quality and tenacity in the middle of the park.
[freshpress-quiz id=”343772″]
The Latest: Midfielder linked with return to Turkey
Unfortunately, West Brom’s relegation has led to speculation surrounding the 27-year-old’s future, with Takvim [via Sport Witness] claiming that Fenerbahce see him as an ideal replacement for Luis Gustavo, most likely as a loan signing.
It seems unlikely that the Baggies will be able to retain Yokuslu’s services moving forward, given their drop down to the second tier of English football and his status as a temporary Baggie.
The Verdict: Tough to keep hold of Yokuslu
In truth, it is hard to begrudge Yokuslu not wanting to stay put at the Hawthorns, whether permanently or on loan, with the Turk good enough to be playing top-flight football – teammate Kyle Bartley hailed him as ‘brilliant’ and ‘tenacious’ back in February.
The sad reality of being relegated is that teams will lose their most important players – something West Brom have experienced so often, given their seesaw nature between the Premier League and the Championship in recent years.
It would be a huge positive if Yokuslu ended up staying put, but that feels unrealistic, with 31 caps for Turkey speaking volumes about his quality.
In other news, a pundit believes one West Brom player will be on the move this summer. Find out who it is here.
About the Author
