In preparation for Özil deal: Fener put price tag on Tufan - €5m above market value

Ozan Tufan is one of the main reasons that Fenerbahce are competing for the title again after a season to forget. The big winner of the latest market value update in the Süper Lig could nevertheless be on the verge of leaving to realise the transfer of Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil. As Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reports, Fener are ready to let his midfielder leave for €15 million and thus €5 million above his current market value – there are understood to be interested clubs from England, Italy and Russia.

A €10 million offer from CSKA Moscow has reportedly been turned down already – in the Premier League, Tufan is supposed to be on West Brom’s and Crystal Palace’s radar and in Serie A, league leaders AC Milan have expressed interest in the in-form Turkey international. This season, the midfielder, whose contract expires in 2023, has been directly involved in nine goals in 15 league matches – on Monday night, Fener can draw level with leaders Besiktas with a win at bottom club Erzurumspor.

Fenerbahce want Arsenal’s top earner: The numbers of the Özil deal

The rumours about Özil’s free transfer been making headlines since last Wednesday. At Fenerbahce, the Arsenal midfielder is said to be receiving a contract that will earn him a signing-on fee of €2.5 million as well as an annual salary of around €5 million net. Both Fener head coach Erol Bulut and his Gunners counterpart Mikel Arteta would neither confirm nor deny the rumours.

Tufan, Samatta & Co. The most valuable Süper Lig players Click here for overview Tufan joined Fener from Bursaspor for €7.5 million as a 20-year-old top talent in 2015 and subsequently failed miserably. After a footballing rollercoaster ride, he is now as valuable and as important as he has ever been. “He was completely down and only made a name for himself off the pitch. In 2018, he wanted a fresh start in England and a transfer to West Brom almost happened before he was ordered back at the airport because the deal fell through – the low point. In the aftermath, he recommitted to football and it worked. Many thought he was going astray, but he made the most of his second chance with Fener and the national team,” says Gökhan Yagmur, area manager Transfermarkt.com.tr.

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