Turkish marksman Cenk Tosun becomes Premiership target

ISTANBUL: The top scorer for Istanbul’s Besiktas last season and one of the standout players of the current Champions League, Turkish striker Cenk Tosun is now firmly in the sights of clubs from the Premiership and elsewhere.

Tosun tore apart the defence of Monaco in a memorable away win for Besiktas in the Champions League group stage clash on October 17, scoring two goals and effectively ending the hopes of last year’s semi finalists of going any further.

Besiktas, well ahead on top of group G, on Wednesday take on Monaco at home for the return tie, seeking another giant stride to qualification for the knockout stages.

The scintillating performances of the Germany-born Tosun, 26, who has scored eight goals in all competitions this year alone, have not gone unnoticed outside of Turkey.

The British press have reported that Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Everton are all interested in the striker while interest has also been noted from AC Milan.

There are hopes in Turkey, where Tosun has made 23 appearances for his home country, that the player will emerge as a striker of international class.

Turkey has not had such a marksman since the days of Hakan Sukur, who helped his country to third place in the 2002 World Cup but then fell into disgrace over his links with the preacher Fethullah Gulen blamed for the 2016 failed coup.

“I work a lot,” said Tosun, explaining his success. “I work collectively and individually and I hope to make up for my weak points.” - AFP