Solskjaer has made a promising start, but couldn’t hold on to a season goal with 3rd place and a Europa League ticket. Still, overrunning Athletic Club during their first weeks on the job, plus a win against unbeaten Galatasaray away from home, the same against league runners-up Fenerbahce and an angry Mouriho, give optimism for the first full season. The big question now is what reinforcements the club can deliver before the start of the season.
In May, Besiktas boss Solskjaer asked in front of the Turkish press which striker the coach wanted. The answer was a sly: “Haaland..” Of course, it won’t be Haaland. Although Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth has also been linked to the Turkish club, this is also unfortunately unrealistic.
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With Ciro Immobile on his way out one year before the end of his contract for a return to Serie A, the club has cleared space in the salary budget of a new striker. So who moves up as a candidate when Haaland and Sørloth are out of reach? It is steered towards a German power forward, as tall as Haaland.
According to Turkish Fanatik, Besiktas are working to bring in German international striker Tim Kleindienst (debut at Die Mannschaft October 2024). The 29-year-old, who is anything but klein, towers 1.94 meters above the pitch when he plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach.
– He is a giant. With the tall giant as a centre-forward, Besiktas are likely to eliminate the difficulties they had in scoring goals last season.
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The German striker went on to score 16 Bundesliga goals in 31 games, while Besiktas reportedly made a bid of €7.5 million. Gladbach is demanding double that, but intense negotiations are ongoing, reports the Turkish media.
