Leeds, Palace on alert as Spaniards clear path to bargain midfield battler

Leeds United and Crystal Palace have been given the green light to move for former West Brom loan star Okay Yokuslu who is reportedly surplus to requirements at Celta Vigo.

The 27-year-old has been with Celta since 2018, making 68 LaLiga appearances for Los Celestes. But, after slipping down the pecking order, he was loaned to the Baggies during the winter transfer window. Albion chief Sam Allardyce was hoping the Turkey international would help inspire his team-mates to stave off relegation.

He made 15 starts among 16 Premier League appearances but could not prevent the West Midlanders going down. Now back with the Galicians, Yokuslu has reportedly been told he has no future at the club.

Marca are suggesting he will be on his way and any suitor will only need to part with £5m. That will not scare either the Whites or Eagles, who have been linked in the past.

Towards the end of 2020-2021, the man with 35 Turkey caps hinted that he was keen to remain in England.

“Perhaps the structure of the Premier League, the culture and the habits of the country may be more suitable for me, but I think the language of football is unique,” he said.

Yokuslu to help out England star at Leeds

Palace are looking for a replacement for James McCarthy, with Patrick Vieira now at the helm. It is not known if the France World Cup-winning star is as keen as his predecessor on the schemer.

But Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa may well be eyeing the tough-tacking ace to help Kalvin Phillips. Phillips is the undoubted midfielder superstar at Elland Road and enhanced his reputation with England at Euro 2020.

But having a similar defensive-minded player in the squad would ease the burden on the 25-year-old. El Desmarque reported a few weeks ago that the two clubs were open to signing the former Trabzonspor star.

The trail has gone cold but there is still time for a move to happen. And, if Marca’s report turns out to be correct, then the way is now open for deals to be done.

Any club interested would be getting a man who has a keen eye for a pass. And he is not afraid of putting in the hard yards, with 331 senior appearances on his CV.

He has just two years left on his current contract and it appears the buying clubs hold most of the aces.

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