Newcastle United Sporting Director flies into Instanbul in pursuit of Yilmaz – Report

An interesting media update has reported that Paul Mitchell has left Japan and flown to Istanbul.

The Newcastle United Sporting Director had been over in Japan with Eddie Howe and the first-team squad, as well as many on the senior management team at the football club.

The Fotospor report says that Paul Mitchell flew into Istanbul on Friday.

The Turkish media outlet saying that the Newcastle United Sporting Director is understood to be going to watch the Galatasaray-Besiktas Super Cup final today (Saturday), with the possibility that he could then make a formal Newcastle United offer for Baris Alper Yılmaz.

Yilmaz has helped Galatasaray to win the league title these last two seasons and was one of the stand-out stars of Turkey’s impressive performances at the Euros.

The 24-year-old, a very versatile player who can play right across the forward line, including both wings. The expectation is that one of Newcastle’s big signings this summer will be one who can play through the middle, as well as being primarily used on the right wing.

Over in Turkey, it has increasingly become taken for granted that Baris Alper Yilmaz will leave Galatasaray this summer and the Premier League seen as by far the most likely destination.

A number of English clubs have already been linked with the winger and even claims that one or more Premier League clubs have already had talks in order to potentially sign him.

The Fotospor report says that Paul Mitchell was talked about as potentially becoming the new Sporting Director at either Fenerbahce or Besiktas, after leaving AS Monaco. That talk ended of course when Newcastle United appointed him.

Interestingly, Fotospor say that Paul Mitchell has been a longtime admirer of Yilmaz, going back to his time when Sporting Director at AS Monaco.

I must admit, most transfer stories regarding Newcastle United from the media in Turkey are easy to ignore, however, this one does feel as though there is a possibility of some substance in it.