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West Brom midfielder Okay Yokuslu’s agent has spoken of the transfer interest this past summer window, but why Yokuslu stayed at Albion
Okay Yokuslu’s agent has been quoted in the Turkish press as suggesting that there were clubs earlier in the summer who expressed an interest in the West Brom midfielder, but that Yokuslu himself was intent on remaining at The Hawthorns having settled into his familiar surroundings.
Yokuslu has started all five of Albion’s matches this season and featured in 38 Championship matches last year, contributing four goals; those came in the wins over Blackpool and Preston North End, as well as in the final day defeat to Swansea City as the Baggies came up short in their play-off bid.
The returning Turkish midfielder was warmly received by the Albion fanbase last summer, after spending the second half of their behind-closed-doors Premier League season on loan, and the club’s supporters have enjoyed, in the time since, watching Yokuslu showcase his talents in the flesh under Steve Bruce and now Carlos Corberan.
Yokuslu spoke earlier this summer of his desire to help the club return to the Premier League and spoke fondly of the West Midlands, where he and his young family have settled. Talk of a return to Turkey, then, despite Albion as a club being in a position where any serious offers would’ve had to have been considered this past summer, never sounded likely to materialise.
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His agent, Batur Altiparmak, claims that there were enquiries at various points during this past summer after Albion missed out on promotion back to the top flight. The top clubs in Turkey, too, have spent big this transfer window – which closes on Friday – and they’ve attracted a host of English-based players to the Super Lig, including Wilfried Zaha, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fred. At no point, though, was Yokuslu hankering for a move back to his homeland.
“First of all, let me say this, there was no communication with us from Galatasaray,” Altiparmak told beIN Sports, via Sport Witness. “We were called at the beginning of the season and asked about our situation. We said that we wanted to continue our football life in England and we were not interested. Some Turkish clubs also asked about the situation, but we did not accept unless there was an extraordinary situation. We are determined to continue our football life in England.”
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