Besiktas president confirms talks with Chelsea over mystery player

Perhaps above and beyond all other national media -- and we're painting with broad strokes here -- the Turkish press has a penchant for sensationalist, often categorically false or even made up rumors.  The example of one outlet making up an entire interview with John Obi Mikel over a transfer to Galatasary springs to mind.  And while some Turkish sources may be better than most, that episode especially has caused me to treat them all with great suspicion.  That is one of the reasons I've been ignoring most of the chatter coming out of the Turkish capital regarding Besiktas interest in Chelsea players, namely Mohamed Salah (loan or permanent transfer) and Nathan Aké (loan).  But it would appear that, for once, there's some truth behind these rumblings.

"I was in England and held talks with Chelsea but it would be wrong to disclose who the negotiations were regarding. The talks are ongoing, if I was to tell you who the transfer was regarding it could make the move more difficult."

-Fikret Orman, Besiktas president; source: Evening Standard

The Evening Standard assume this is regarding a Salah purchase and an Aké loan combined, but the president clearly made it a point not to divulge any names.  If they are indeed interested in two players rather than just one.  So until we learn something more concrete, we get to speculate away as well.  (No, Demba, you can't have your brother Eden Hazard join you!)