Newcastle United Sporting Director watches on as Yilmaz can’t prevent Galatasaray disaster – Report | OneFootball

On Saturday, we reported how an ‘exclusive’ in the Turkish media (see below) had claimed that Paul Mitchell had flown into Istanbul, after leaving early from the club’s trip to Japan, with the express intention of targeting the signing of Baris Alper Yılmaz.

The Newcastle United Sporting Director set to watch the Turkish Super Cup match between Galtasaray and Besiktas, before then allegedly looking then to start negotiating the signing of Yilmaz.

The talented and versatile 24-year-old can play right across the frontline, including wide right, a position that is universally expected to see a new first-choice option brought into Newcastle United this summer.

Fair to say that the Super Cup didn’t exactly go the way of Baris Alper Yılmaz and Galatasaray…

In less than 60 seconds Immobile gave Besiktas the lead and it was downhill from there.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, Yilmaz was one of two subs brought on for the second-half but he was unable to help turn it around, indeed, Besiktas ended up hammering Galatasaray 5-0. Yilmaz only received a 73rd yellow card as frustrations boiled over, with Nelsson red-carded late on to reduce Galatasaray to 10 men.

As with all transfer stories, who knows how much substance there is to this one, but certainly Yilmaz ticks a lot of boxes. Still only 24 and having helped Galatasaray to win the last two league titles, scoring and creating goals, as well as putting in the sort of hard work that Eddie Howe demands. We all saw this from Yilmaz as well during the Euros this summer, when both he and Turkey impressed.

Plenty of other Premier League clubs have been linked with Yilmaz this summer amid claims he could be signed for a more reasonable figure than other targets would cost, a figure of around £30m the most regular valuation claimed.

Tuncay Maldan is the agent of Baris Alper Yilmaz and the Turkish media reports say that he was meeting Paul Mitchell on Saturday night for dinner, following the Super Cup match.

As I said earlier, transfer stories always have to be treated with caution, but if indeed Paul Mitchell is in Istanbul having dinner with an agent a fortnight before the Premier League kicks off and four weeks before the transfer window closes, I think we can assume it isn’t simply a social engagement.

‘An interesting media update has reported that Paul Mitchell has left Japan and flown to Istanbul.

The Newcastle United Sporting Director had been over in Japan with Eddie Howe and the first-team squad, as well as many on the senior management team at the football club.

The Fotospor report says that Paul Mitchell flew into Istanbul on Friday.

The Turkish media outlet saying that the Newcastle United Sporting Director is understood to be going to watch the Galatasaray-Besiktas Super Cup final today (Saturday), with the possibility that he could then make a formal Newcastle United offer for Baris Alper Yılmaz.

Yilmaz has helped Galatasaray to win the league title these last two seasons and was one of the stand-out stars of Turkey’s impressive performances at the Euros.

The 24-year-old, a very versatile player who can play right across the forward line, including both wings. The expectation is that one of Newcastle’s big signings this summer will be one who can play through the middle, as well as being primarily used on the right wing.

Over in Turkey, it has increasingly become taken for granted that Baris Alper Yilmaz will leave Galatasaray this summer and the Premier League seen as by far the most likely destination.

A number of English clubs have already been linked with the winger and even claims that one or more Premier League clubs have already had talks in order to potentially sign him.

The Fotospor report says that Paul Mitchell was talked about as potentially becoming the new Sporting Director at either Fenerbahce or Besiktas, after leaving AS Monaco. That talk ended of course when Newcastle United appointed him.

Interestingly, Fotospor say that Paul Mitchell has been a longtime admirer of Yilmaz, going back to his time when Sporting Director at AS Monaco.