Besiktas ready to play hard ball on Newcastle target Tosun

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez. Picture by Frank Reid

A mega bid of â‚¬20million may not be enough to land the services of Newcastle United target Cenk Tosun, according to Besiktas president Fikret Orman.

The Magpies have been linked with a January move for the Turkish international frontman, along with the likes of Wolfsburg, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.

It has even been suggested in recent days by Turkish outlet Aksam News that United are readying a €17.5million winter bid.

But owner Orman has hinted that kind of cash may not be enough to tempt him to sell.

“There’s no figure for him,” Orman said of Tosun to outlet NTV Spor.

“These players are like my children – I have an interest in their careers. They aren’t machines.

“(Kylian) Mbappe went to Paris Saint-Germain for €180m, (Naby) Keita for €70 or €80m, so placing a higher value than €20m on Tosun is not crazy.

“If Mbappe had played for Besiktas, would PSG have paid that amount? We need to raise the brand value of Turkish football.”

The 26-year-old was first linked to United in the dying embers of the summer window this year, but Rafa Benitez found funds hard to come by.