Leeds United have been linked with a move for Besiktas’ young forward Semih Kilicsoy following promotion to the Premier League, and he could soon be on his way out of the Turkish club.
Semih Kilicsoy has had an eventful past 12 months or so. The Turkish international forward, 19, was linked with the likes of Arsenal last year, before his rather meek 2024/25 season unfolded with Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig.
He went on to score just three league goals in 31 games for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in 2024/25, but Daniel Farke could yet hand him a Premier League move this summer with rumours that Leeds United are interested in signing Kilicsoy.
It was even claimed that Leeds United were set to bid for Kilicsoy who is valued at £8.5million by the Turkish club. But subsequent reports then claimed that Besiktas want to send Kilicsoy out on loan this summer, rather than sell him.
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Leeds United transfer target Semih Kilicsoy urged to leave Besiktas
Kilicsoy seems to be stuck between a rock and a hard place at Besiktas: he’s clearly out of favour and his stock has plummeted over the course of the 2024/25 season, but Besiktas seem cautious about selling him permanently this summer. Amid the uncertainty, Kilicsoy has been urged to get out of the club, for his own good.
Turkish pundit Serdar Saridag has now told Kilicsoy he ‘should go’ this summer, or face being worn down by Solskjaer’s side. Speaking on Begikad TV, Saridag said: “Semih Kilicsoy should go because the longer he stays in Beşiktaş, the more they will wear him out.”
It was the 2023/24 season that saw Kilicsoy become a very highly-regarded name in Turkey. He scored 11 goals in 23 Super Lig games for Besiktas but he’s clearly failed to live up to expectations this season. Still aged just 19 though, he’s a player who still boasts plenty of potential.
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The latest on Leeds United’s search for a new striker
Farke is desperately in need of some striker signings this summer. And so far there’s been a handful linked, albeit not a huge amount, and none seem as though they’re really that close to joining either.
Leeds United are weighing up a bid for Troy Parrott at AZ Alkmaar in the transfer link that appears to have the most legs right now, though Parrott said in a recent interview that he’s keen to stay with Alkmaar going into the next season.
Elsewhere, the likes of Willem Geubbels and Josh Sargent have seen their links to Leeds reignited after the strikers were both linked in the January transfer window.
It’s also being reported that Leeds United are interested in Celtic striker Daizen Maeda who appears to face an uncertain summer, although the Whites would likely have to cough up £20million or more to sign the Japanese international this summer.
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