Salih Özcan deems Beşiktaş offer insufficient: negotiations continue over key midfield target
Beşiktaş have once again turned their attention to Borussia Dortmund midfielder Salih Özcan as they intensify efforts to reinforce the center of the pitch ahead of the new season. Following the departure of Salih Uçan, the Istanbul club is actively searching for a domestic, high-level option to fill the gap, and Özcan has emerged as one of the primary names on their shortlist.
According to the latest information, Beşiktaş have put a concrete proposal on the table for the 28-year-old Turkish international. The black-and-whites are reported to have offered a three-year contract based on a net annual salary of 2.5 million euros. However, the player’s camp is said to have considered this offer below their expectations and have requested a higher wage package.
Despite this initial disagreement, talks between the two sides are ongoing. Beşiktaş management is trying to keep the overall cost of the deal within the club’s financial framework, aiming not to break their wage structure while still presenting an offer that can convince the player to move. The negotiations are described as calm but firm, with both parties exploring a possible middle ground.
Özcan’s name had already been strongly linked with Beşiktaş during the previous winter transfer window. At that time, the club held intensive discussions to gauge the feasibility of a move, but the conditions did not align. Now, with the squad planning reshaped following exits in midfield, Beşiktaş have reactivated the file, believing that the timing and sporting context may be more favorable.
One of the key reasons Beşiktaş remain insistent on Özcan is his recent form and chemistry for the national team. His on-field harmony with Orkun Kökçü in the Turkish midfield has particularly attracted the club’s attention. Beşiktaş’s technical staff reportedly see this partnership as a potential foundation for their own midfield setup, hoping to replicate at club level the balance and dynamism the pair have shown in international matches.
From a sporting perspective, Özcan fits the profile Beşiktaş are looking for: a physically strong, tactically disciplined, and ball-winning central midfielder who is also capable of contributing to the build-up phase. As a homegrown option with international experience in one of Europe’s top leagues, he offers both quality and compliance with foreign player limits, which further increases his value in the domestic market.
On the financial side, however, the situation is more complex. Özcan is currently believed to earn a significantly higher gross salary at Dortmund than what Beşiktaş initially proposed. This gap helps explain why the 2.5 million euro net offer is being viewed as insufficient by the player’s side. For Özcan, leaving a top Bundesliga club for the Turkish league is only likely if the economic package is competitive and reflects his current status and ambitions.
Within Beşiktaş circles, opinions about the potential transfer are sharply divided. A portion of the fanbase considers the 2.5 million euro yearly salary already quite high and argues that the club should not exceed this figure, pointing out that there are many other midfielders on the market who could be signed for similar or lower wages. These supporters are skeptical about committing a substantial budget to a player they perceive as not decisively superior to internal or younger options.
Others, however, insist that a player of Özcan’s caliber inevitably commands a premium. They underline that he has been part of Borussia Dortmund’s squad, played at a high tempo in the Bundesliga and European competitions, and has become a regular in the national team. From this standpoint, they argue that Beşiktaş must be prepared to stretch financially-within reason-if they genuinely want to compete at the highest level domestically and make an impact in Europe.
The debate is not only about money, but also about sporting priorities and squad balance. Some observers believe that pairing Özcan with Orkun Kökçü could offer Beşiktaş a highly stable and intelligent midfield core, capable of both disrupting opponents and initiating attacks with composure. Others argue that what the team truly lacks is a more attacking, creative midfielder in the mold of a classic number 10 or a Talisca-type player, rather than another deep-lying, workmanlike option.
Past examples of players arriving from the German league fuel the controversy as well. Critics recall that some experienced names coming from the Bundesliga in recent years have struggled to match expectations in Turkey, sometimes appearing more focused on winding down their careers than on maintaining the intensity required. This has made some wary of paying top wages to players whose motivation and adaptation are not guaranteed.
From the club’s point of view, the Özcan pursuit is also closely linked to budget discipline and long-term planning. Management is acutely aware that overpaying one player can create a domino effect in the dressing room, with other squad members demanding similar raises. For a club still working to stabilize its finances, any salary above the proposed 2.5 million euro mark must be evaluated very carefully, especially for a multi-year agreement.
On the other hand, there is also the risk of missing out on a strategically valuable player by being overly rigid. If Beşiktaş want to build a core of Turkish internationals at the heart of their team, Özcan is a rare profile: at a good age, with international exposure, and able to immediately step into a starting role. Passing on such an opportunity may force the club to resort again to stopgap solutions or less proven names, which could cost more in the long run in terms of both performance and repeated transfer spending.
Another aspect under discussion is Özcan’s own recent performance trajectory. Supporters and pundits who oppose a high salary package point out that his statistics at club level in terms of goals and assists are not particularly eye-catching. They question whether a primarily defensive or box-to-box midfielder, who is not known for prolific scoring, justifies such a financial outlay compared to more creative or decisive offensive players.
However, modern football analysis emphasizes that a midfielder’s value cannot be reduced to goals and assists alone. Özcan’s defensive coverage, pressing intensity, positioning, and ability to protect the back line are qualities that often go underappreciated by the casual eye but are prized by coaches. In a league where transitions and physical duels are crucial, these attributes can be exactly what stabilizes a team that has conceded too many goals in recent seasons.
The timing of the deal is also important. With pre-season preparations underway, Beşiktaş would ideally like to finalize their central midfield structure as early as possible so that the coaching staff can integrate new signings into tactical drills and develop automatisms. A protracted negotiation with Özcan could delay other moves if the club is keeping part of its budget in reserve for this transfer, raising questions about overall transfer strategy and contingency planning.
Market dynamics add another layer of uncertainty. If Beşiktaş fail to reach an agreement, Özcan could either stay at Dortmund as a squad player, seek another club in Europe, or explore offers from financially powerful leagues outside the traditional top five. Conversely, if other suitors appear with stronger offers, Beşiktaş may have to decide quickly how far they are willing to go, or risk being left behind in the race.
From Özcan’s perspective, the decision is equally complex. Moving to Beşiktaş would likely mean more consistent playing time, a leading role in a big club, and a clearer path to staying in the national team picture. Yet he would be trading the prestige and competitive environment of the Bundesliga for the pressure cooker atmosphere of Istanbul, where expectations are extremely high and patience is limited. The financial package therefore becomes not just a salary, but a measure of how much the club values his role in this transition.
Looking at the broader picture, the Özcan case reflects a recurring pattern in Turkish football: the tension between ambition and financial realism. Clubs aim to attract high-level players with international experience, but must operate under tightening economic conditions and increasing scrutiny over spending. Every major contract offer becomes a test of whether lessons from past financial missteps have been learned.
For now, the situation remains open. Beşiktaş have made their stance clear with an initial three-year, 2.5 million euro-per-season proposal and appear unwilling to drastically exceed this number. Özcan’s camp is pushing for a package more in line with his current earnings and status, signaling that he will not move at any price.
If a compromise number is found-possibly through performance bonuses, appearance-based clauses, or a slightly higher fixed salary spread over the contract-Özcan could become one of the central pieces of Beşiktaş’s new-era midfield. If not, the black-and-whites will need to swiftly pivot to alternative targets, knowing that the search for a reliable, domestic midfield anchor is unlikely to get any easier as the window progresses.
In the coming days, the negotiations over salary, contract length, and sporting guarantees will determine whether Salih Özcan’s name will be inscribed on Beşiktaş’s teamsheet next season or remain another high-profile pursuit that fell just short of completion.