Beşiktaş shaping their summer blueprint: young core, clear targets, long-term vision
After a turbulent but ambitious winter window, Beşiktaş have begun mapping out their squad for next season. The club, which almost rebuilt its roster mid-season, is now preparing for a summer focused on targeted reinforcements and long-term planning rather than wholesale changes.
During the January period, the black-and-whites brought in a significant group of players: Yasin Özcan, Asllani, Olaitan, Murillo, Oh, Agbadou and goalkeeper Vasquez all joined to refresh and rejuvenate the squad. This wave of signings marked the start of a structural overhaul, prioritising youth, physicality and resale potential.
Now the focus is turning to the next phase. According to reports, Beşiktaş have already identified several key names for the upcoming transfer window. Georgian winger Zuriko Davitashvili and Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayındır are among the primary targets, while Glasgow Rangers forward Youssef Chermiti has also moved onto the club’s radar.
Chermiti under close observation
The Portuguese striker of Tunisian descent, currently under contract with Rangers, is one of the main profiles being followed closely by Beşiktaş’s scouting department. It is claimed that the club’s decision-makers have added Chermiti to their official transfer shortlist and see him as a strategic piece for the future.
The 21-year-old centre-forward was linked with Fenerbahçe during the winter window, but that move never materialised. Now the expectation is that Beşiktaş will sit down with the Scottish side once the summer window opens and initiate formal talks over a potential deal. The intention is to move early and decisively, rather than wait for the late-summer rush that often inflates prices and limits options.
Head coach Sergen Yalçın has played a crucial role in defining this direction. Under his guidance, the club’s board has committed to lowering the average age of the squad and building around players with high development ceilings. Chermiti fits that profile perfectly: a young, physically imposing striker who can grow alongside the team rather than being a short-term solution.
Stats that support the interest
Chermiti has enjoyed a consistent run of games this season at Rangers. He has featured in 28 matches across all competitions, establishing himself as a regular option in the forward line. In the Scottish Premiership alone, he has scored 4 goals and provided 2 assists, directly contributing to 6 goals despite still being in the early stages of his professional career.
Last summer, Rangers paid 8.6 million euros in transfer fee to sign him from Everton, underlining the belief in his potential at top-club level. Despite this sizeable investment, there is increasing talk that he could be allowed to leave at the end of the season, with a summer departure viewed by many observers as highly likely.
Player profile: why Chermiti fits Beşiktaş’s needs
Standing at 1.92 metres, Chermiti brings a dominant aerial presence, something Beşiktaş have often lacked in recent seasons, especially in set-piece situations. His height and timing in the air make him a constant threat on corners and free-kicks, turning dead-ball scenarios into a major offensive weapon.
He is not just a target man, though. Chermiti is comfortable playing with his back to goal, shielding the ball and bringing teammates into play. This attribute is especially valuable for sides that want to progress up the pitch in a structured way, allowing wingers and attacking midfielders to run off him and exploit space.
In close-range situations inside the box, he has shown promising instincts as a finisher. Combined with strong physical conditioning and good work rate, he is well-suited to leading the press in the final third, a key requirement for modern centre-forwards. Overall, he is regarded as a high-potential striker with plenty of room to develop in both technical and tactical aspects.
How Chermiti would change Beşiktaş’s attacking setup
If Beşiktaş manage to land Chermiti, the dynamics of their forward line could evolve significantly. A physically strong, tall striker would allow the team to vary its attacking patterns: not only building carefully through midfield, but also going more direct when needed and exploiting crosses from wide areas.
For wingers and attacking midfielders, having a central reference point like Chermiti can open more space. Defenders are forced to focus on his presence in the box, which can free up second-line runners arriving at the edge of the area. This could particularly benefit creative players who like to operate between the lines and arrive late into scoring positions.
Additionally, in matches where opponents sit deep and defend close to their own penalty area, aerial power and set-piece efficiency often decide the outcome. With Chermiti on the pitch, Beşiktaş would have an added dimension in tight, low-scoring games where one goal can make the difference.
Goalkeeper and wing options: Bayındır and Davitashvili
The club’s interest is not limited to the centre-forward position. Altay Bayındır is being considered as a key piece in the goalkeeping department. Bringing in a domestic goalkeeper of his calibre would help with squad registration rules and create strong competition for the number one spot. The idea is to establish a reliable, long-term solution between the posts while also balancing the foreign player quota.
On the flanks, Zuriko Davitashvili is viewed as a player who can inject energy, speed and directness into the attack. Beşiktaş have struggled at times to find a stable, high-impact option on the wings, and the Georgian’s profile — a winger who can both create and finish — aligns with the club’s desire for more vertical and unpredictable attacking play.
From short-term fixes to long-term structure
One of the criticisms surrounding Beşiktaş in recent years has been a tendency towards late, reactive transfers and short-term deals. The current planning process suggests an attempt to break this cycle. By identifying young targets months before the window opens, the club aims to avoid panic buys and instead secure players who fit a long-term sporting project.
The winter moves for Yasin Özcan, Asllani, Olaitan and others already indicated this shift in strategy. The potential summer additions of Chermiti, Bayındır and Davitashvili would further consolidate a core built around players in their early twenties, capable of contributing immediately but also growing in value over time.
Financial and sporting balance
Of course, any move for Chermiti will also be influenced by financial realities. Rangers’ initial outlay of 8.6 million euros means they will likely seek to protect their investment, whether through a significant transfer fee or a structure involving add-ons and bonuses. For Beşiktaş, the challenge will be to negotiate a deal that fits within the club’s budget while still beating potential competition from other leagues.
However, the strategy of signing young, high-upside players carries a clear financial logic: if they develop as expected, their market value can rise substantially, allowing the club to generate income from future sales. This model, widely used across Europe, is increasingly seen as the only sustainable way to remain competitive at the highest levels.
Competition within the squad and tactical flexibility
Should these planned transfers materialise, internal competition is expected to increase in almost every line of the team. Up front, Chermiti would not necessarily arrive as an undisputed starter, but rather as a strong contender for the role, pushing existing forwards to raise their level. This kind of healthy rivalry can often lead to overall improvement in performance.
For the coaching staff, having a mix of profiles — mobile forwards, target men, pacey wingers, playmakers — provides greater tactical flexibility. Depending on the opponent, Beşiktaş could switch between a possession-based game, a more direct approach, or a pressing-oriented plan centred on recovering the ball high up the field, with Chermiti as a key trigger.
A summer window that could define the medium term
Beşiktaş’s summer is shaping up to be more than just another transfer period; it has the potential to define the club’s medium-term trajectory. If the management succeeds in securing its main targets and maintaining squad balance, the team could enter next season with a younger, deeper and more coherent roster.
By targeting players like Chermiti, Bayındır and Davitashvili, the club is signalling a desire to blend immediate competitiveness with future-oriented planning. How well this plan is executed — both on the negotiation table and later on the pitch — will determine whether this new vision truly marks the beginning of a more stable and successful era for the black-and-whites.