Football
Eren Sarigul, ESPN.com writer 6y

Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez among Besiktas targets - sources

Premier League quartet Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez, Islam Slimani and Kelechi Iheanacho are being targeted by Besiktas as they look to replace Cenk Tosun, sources have told ESPN FC.

Tosun recently joined Everton in a £27 million move and Besiktas have made signing a replacement in the January transfer window their priority.

Besiktas will take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16 next month and are locked in the domestic title race with only Alvaro Negredo and Mustafa Pektemek as options in attack.

They are determined to bring in a forward to fill the void left by Tosun without breaking the bank as the club is still operating under financial fair play regulations.

Besiktas president Fikret Orman is in London with club officials intent on brokering a deal before the end of the transfer window.

The club have not entered talks with Welbeck's agent or submitted a formal offer to Arsenal but he remains a player of interest.

Meanwhile, headway has been made with the remaining three players on the list.

Talks have been held with the representatives of all three players but West Ham striker Hernandez and Leicester's Slimani are the two that Besiktas currently see most likely to reach an agreement over.

Mexico international Hernandez is wanted on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy permanently. He has fallen out of favour at West Ham under David Moyes and with the 2018 World Cup in the summer he is keen to secure regular playing time.

Besiktas would be able to guarantee first-team options and Champions League football.

They have also proposed a loan deal for Slimani with a buy-out clause. Besiktas are of the view that the Algeria international is keen on making the move but that Leicester are undecided over his future.

The 29-year-old has scored just 13 goals since his £28 million move from Sporting Lisbon and is under contract until 2021 but has struggled to make his mark under Claude Puel.

Besiktas appeared close to unveiling Cyle Larin as Tosun's replacement last week, but the Canada international's MLS club Orlando City claim the player is still under contract, and no resolution appears forthcoming.

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