The transfer saga surrounding Tolgay Arslan looks set to be drawing to an end as the midfielder has reportedly agreed a deal to join Turkish club Besiktas.
According to a Twitter source, a fee of around €500,000 has been agreed between the two clubs, thus ending the unsettled feeling the Arslan possessed at his lack of consistent gametime under Zinnbauer.
The versatile midfielder came through youth ranks at Borussia Dortmund, where he spent six years between 2003 and 2009. After that, he joined Hamburg on a costless transfer and promptly was handed his debut against Onsabruck in the DFB-Pokal.
Having fluctuated between the first-team and second string, Arslan was loaned to Aachen for the 2010-11 season, scoring six times in 31 appearances for the 2. Bundesliga club.
Despite being born in Paderborn, Arslan represented Turkey through to under-21 level, managing just three appearances before switching to the German Football Association in December 2010. On 14 November 2012, he was called up to U21 level for his debut against, ironically, Turkey.
This season has not gone entirely as planned, as he has amassed just 653 Bundesliga minutes so far, grabbing one assist which came in the game against Hoffenheim. He possesses a 79.4% passing accuracy having played predominantly in the defensive midfield role, but also having had minutes at the right attacking midfield position.
It is a shame that things seemingly haven't worked out at Hamburg after 6 years at the club, but the switch to pastures new might be the best thing for his career at this stage, and HSV can use his wages to recruit more favourable players.
However, one player that Zinnbauer does seem keen on bringing in is Mohamed Salah from Chelsea. BILD reported the interest a couple of days ago, but recent developments seem to suggest the Egyptian forward is indeed available on a loan deal basis.
The Daily Mail reported yesterday that Salah is apparently not keen on HSV, and that Serie A side Fiorentina are also interested, but ultimately all at this stage is speculation and it may be down to his manager and his agent overall.
Signed for £11million from Swiss side FC Basel in January 2014, the Egyptian has appeared just 13 times for Chelsea since joining, scoring twice.
Beşiktaş have been closely linked with the out of favour winger, and club president Fikret Orman essentially confirmed this.
“I was in England and held talks with Chelsea but it would be wrong to disclose who the negotiations were regarding,” Orman said.
“The talks are ongoing, if I was to tell you who the transfer was regarding it could make the move more difficult.”
It appears then that Hamburg will have to beat off competition, but the higher quality of Bundesliga play may make the club a more attractive prospect for Mourinho and Salah.
If one thing can be taken from this news, it is that Zinnbauer appears to have a degree of financial backing to help sculpt his team, evident from names like Drmić and Kuzmanovic being linked to the club.
It will be an interesting January window for HSV if things continue as they have so far, but fans will be hoping the speculation turns into signatures and players are actually signed, as opposed to frustration come deadline day.
