Celtic in three club race for Beşiktaş star Demir Ege Tiknaz’s signature
Perhaps one of the most exciting transfer stories in recent days has been the link with Turkish 20-year-old deep lying playmaker Demir Ege Tıknaz.
Tiknaz has been on loan with Portuguese club Rio Ave last season, and it was reported his loan club had an option to buy on the player for around €4.5m.
To get the player on a permanent basis that deal had to be concluded by Tuesday.
That deadline has now passed, and Celtic have once again been linked with the player, as per Mustafa Korkusz of Turkish publication trtspor who have names Celtic alongside Swiss club Basel and Belgian side Anderlecht as holding an interest in signing Tiknaz in this transfer window.
Basel, Celtic and Anderlecht are closely following the situation of Demir Ege Tıknaz. The three clubs are expected to make official contact with Beşiktaş in the coming days.’
Celtic are likely in the market for central midfield reinforcements and if this is a genuine transfer target, his stats point to a player on an upward trajectory but one who is already producing some impressive numbers.
He has played as both a defensive and attacking central midfielder and is perhaps more defensively minded by choice and going by his stats, it’s his defensive abilities and passing numbers which indicate a deep lying playmaker with strong defensive output to boot.
According to FBRef Tiknaz is in the top 99 Percentile for interceptions, the top 92 Percentile for Non-Penalty goals and the top 83 percentile for blocks, as well as the top 81 Percentile for clearances. He also scores well for successful take-ons, has impressive passing completion numbers and shows up impressively for aerial duels won.
This is the second time in recent days that Tiknaz has been linked with Celtic. The first came via Portugal, whilst the second is encouraging, coming as it does from Tiknaz’s home country and from a publication with over 3m followers on social media.
Celtic, as ever, will have competition for the midfielder but with interest from Switzerland and Belgium there must be a belief Celtic, if they move quickly, could get this deal done.
