Reiss Nelson becomes number one target for Champions League side | OneFootball

Besiktas have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of Reiss Nelson according to media in Turkey with their board making him their top priority.

Fotospor in Turkey report that Besiktas have made Reiss Nelson their main target for this window with their manager, Sergen Yalcin, wanting a winger.

Apparently, their board will do all they can to secure the signing of Nelson, most likely on loan.

It would need to be a loan given that Nelson is valued at around £11.25m and has three-years left on his current Arsenal contract. Turkish sides are notorious for wanting everyone but never having any money to spend.

Mohamed Elneny spent last season on loan with Besiktas but it did not go well. He went there, however, to secure a move a way from Arsenal while Nelson, if he goes, would be hoping to prove himself to Mikel Arteta.

Nelson started just five league game under Arteta last season and three of those came in Arteta’s first three games in charge. After that Nelson dropped to the bench for two games before picking up a hamstring issue that ruled him out of the next four. He started just another two games after that – against Norwich and Liverpool.

He started just one game in the FA Cup and played in only one other but it doesn’t seem like Arteta is any rush to get rid of the 20-year-old.

Speaking after the Liverpool game, Arteta said of Nelson, “He is a big talent and does a lot of work behind [the scenes]. I trust in him, he is working a lot in every training session and today he had the chance to start and I am really happy for him because I think he deserves it.”

Three clubs reportedly wanted to sign him last summer with a fee of £20m being mentioned.

Besiktas finished in third place in the Super Lig, earning themselves a Champions League qualifier that will take place on 26 August against PAOK Salonika, Chuba Akpom’s side.

Akpom, meanwhile, is apparently another player Besiktas are said to be interested in.