“Concerning” – Links to Turkey intensify for West Brom star shining under Carlos Corberan

Okay Yokuslu’s West Brom future, which might depend on Premier League promotion, worries FLW’s West Brom fan commentator.

Okay Yokuslu, a midfielder for West Brom, is a target for a number of Turkish teams this summer.

A report from the Turkish publication Sports Digitale claims that one Süper Lig team that plans to try to sign him during the summer transfer window is Trabzonspor.

Yokuslu has been linked to a return to his home nation of Turkey for the past year, with heavyweights Galatasaray eager to sign the 30-year-old last summer.

Yokuslu has played a critical role in Albion’s outstanding defensive performance this season. He first made 16 appearances for West Brom after joining the team on loan from Celta Vigo during the January 2021 transfer window.

The midfielder was unable to keep the Midlands team from being relegated from the Premier League to the Championship, despite a few strong individual efforts. After his contract with Celta expired in the summer of 2022, Yokuslu signed a permanent deal to return to West Brom.

The 30-year-old has played for the Baggies in 96 games across all competitions, tallying two assists and five goals. His primary responsibility is to protect the backline with his deep positioning and to provide defensive solidity as the double-pivot’s deepest midfielder.

The midfield player’s current West Brom contract is scheduled to expire at the end of the 2024–2025 season, which means that the summer transfer window may be the last opportunity for the Baggies to acquire him as he will only have 12 months remaining at The Hawthorns.

Yokuslu’s prospects at West Brom

Matt Smith, a West Brom supporter for FLW, worries about Yokuslu’s future if Carlos Corberan’s Baggies don’t win a promotion this season.

“Yokuslu’s ties to Turkey have persisted for a while now, roughly a year and a half,” he stated.

“They are definitely alarming because Corberan has been our greatest player ever since taking over.

“He’s among the greatest at what he does in this league and at his position in the Championship.

“I don’t think there are many players you would trade him for.

“His contract is up at the end of the season, and if we’re not in the Premier League, I can just see him moving on.”

“That might be a trip back home or somewhere new.

“I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen, and if we do go to the Premier League, I believe he’ll stay.

But if we don’t, I can see him walking away.

“Do I believe a side in the Premier League will make a move for him? Not in my case. This is because, based on his profile as a defensive-midfielder in his early 30s, I’m not sure if that’s what they’re looking for these days.

“If someone is astute, they might make a bid for him, but to be honest, I’m more worried about him going back to Turkey than receiving a move in the Premier League.

“Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that, but if we don’t make it to the Premier League, I do believe he’ll be leaving.

“He’s been amazing under Corberan, an a big factor in our upturn in form under him.”

Alright, Yoksulu’s effect on West Brom

Unfortunately, promotion is sometimes the only option available to Championship teams in order to keep hold of key players. This is also the case with West Brom and players such as Yokuslu.\

However, they stand a decent chance of earning a spot in the first team. One of the league’s greatest defensive teams is West Brom, and Corberan is a manager who can defeat teams in the top four.

Yoksulu has been fantastic for them, and despite his age, it wouldn’t be shocking if many clubs in Europe were interested in him given his disruptive talents and deeper build-up skills, which have enormous potential for many teams.

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