SEG Sports Entertainment Group, the agency of Besiktas and Turkey midfielder Oguzhan Özyakup, have revealed that the ex-Arsenal player could soon be on his way to Lazio. The centre-midfielder was born in the Netherlands to Turkish family and has since played for the youth ranks of AZ Alkmaar and Arsenal, before moving to Besiktas for a fee of €500k in July 2012. The versatile midfielder has played 32 times for the Turkish national team and has 32 appearances in all competitions for Besiktas this season.
Özyakup’s agency, SEG, revealed that “I can confirm that Lazio, Marseille, Everton, Milan and Valencia are all observing and are interested in Oguzhan.” He would be the perfect addition to Lazio’s side, given the possibility that Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will be leaving the club in the summer, and given the age of both Lucas Leiva and Marco Parolo.
Unfortunately for Lazio, the situation could be scuppered by an all too familiar foe. SEG, Özyakup’s agency, are one of the leading Dutch agencies in football and just so happen to be the agent of Lazio defender Stefan De Vrij – who is soon on his way to Serie A rivals Inter Milan. Inter have a strong relationship with SEG and the executives may seek to pounce on the player, given the fact that the Turk’s contract expires this summer.
Özyakup has refused the opportunity to extend his contract at Besiktas and therefore will be leaving the Turkish club come the summer. Interest is also thought to be coming from his former club, Arsenal, who are facing a centre-midfield dilemma of their own; given the inconsistencies of their current players.
Özyakup is an extremely versatile midfielder, able to play in a defensive-midfield, centre-midfield and attacking-midfield position; making him the perfect replacement for Milinkovic-Savic, should the Serbian leave the club in the summer transfer window.
