Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has personally stepped into negotiations to bring Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to Besiktas, according to reports in Istanbul – in a move that could produce the most significant transfer in Turkish football history.
Turkish newspaper Zaman reports that the pursuit of Salah is no longer being handled solely as a sporting matter by Besiktas’ hierarchy, but has drawn the close attention of senior state figures, including the president himself.
Erdogan seeks direct briefing on Salah talks
The paper says Mr Erdogan has asked Besiktas president Serdal Adalı to provide him with a detailed briefing on the status of talks with the Egypt captain.
The report adds that Erdogan is said to be personally following “all the details” of the proposed deal to bring Salah to Istanbul, underlining the scale of political and public interest around the potential transfer.
Club insiders quoted by the paper believe that this informal political backing could help Besiktas navigate the substantial financial hurdles involved in recruiting one of the world’s highest-profile forwards.
They argue that such support, even if indirect, may prove crucial in piecing together a financial package capable of convincing both Liverpool and the player to sanction the move.
Financial leap for ambitious Besiktas
Besiktas officials are described as viewing the Salah operation as transformational, both for the club and for the Turkish Super Lig.
The Istanbul side, historically one of Turkey’s “big three” clubs along with Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, are said to be targeting a step up not only in domestic competition but also in European relevance.
According to the Zaman report, the club’s ambitions “do not stop at local competition” and extend to “pursuing continental dominance”, with the signing of Salah framed as a statement of intent on that front.
The financial scale of the proposed agreement has not been disclosed, but the newspaper states that the numbers involved are unprecedented for Turkish football, requiring creative solutions and possibly new revenue streams to make the deal viable.
Salah ‘expected in Istanbul’ next week
In a further twist, Turkish journalist and TV presenter Erdogan Aktas is quoted as saying that Salah is due in Turkey imminently to finalise the move.
Aktas is reported as stating that the Egyptian forward will arrive in Istanbul next Wednesday to put the finishing touches on his contract with Besiktas.
No details were given about the proposed length of the contract, salary, or transfer fee, and there has been no public comment from Liverpool, Besiktas or Salah’s representatives to confirm the claims.
‘Biggest transfer in Turkish history’ if completed
Zaman reports that, should the transfer go through, it would be regarded as the largest signing in the history of the Turkish league – both in terms of market value and public impact.
Salah, 32, is one of the Premier League’s most decorated forwards, having won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and multiple Golden Boots with Liverpool, as well as captaining Egypt.
The rumoured move has already generated intense debate in Turkish media, with commentators highlighting not only the sporting implications but also the symbolism of a deal drawing such close interest from the country’s president.
While key details remain unverified and the transfer window is still open, the reports underline the scale of Besiktas’ ambition – and suggest that, in this case, football and high politics in Turkey are closely intertwined.
