Blues loanee Jens Cajuste’s loan move from Napoli to Besiktas may not be quite as close as previously understood.
Last night, it was reported that the Sweden international had been given the green light to travel to Istanbul to undergo a medical.
However, according to reports in both Italy and Turkey, although an agreement has been reached between the two clubs, the player has not yet been invited to undertake a medical.
According to Sercan Dikme, a journalist with HT Spor in Turkey, Besiktas club president Serdal Adalı is currently in Portugal to work on moves, among them an approach for Turkish international midfielder Orkun Kökçü on loan with a view to signing permanently from Benfica, a player who may be viewed as an alternative to Cajuste and a signing which would viewed as a coup for his club.
An initial loan fee of €1 million (£863,000) with a €6.5 million (£5.6 million) buy option, which is said to be mandatory in some circumstances, is believed to have been agreed between Besiktas and the Serie A champions for Cajuste.
It’s understood the Süper Lig club’s personal terms trumped all other interested parties with the Blues having been very keen for the 25-year-old to return to Portman Road following his successful loan in 2024/25, although with manager Kieran McKenna having admitted at the end of the season that "there’s probably a lot to do for that to happen”.
Italian sides Udinese and Fiorentina are also among those understood to have shown interest, while French clubs and Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Burnley and Crystal Palace were linked, although some of those speculatively.
The Gothenburg-born midfielder, who has three years left on his contract, isn’t in Napoli head coach Antonio Conte’s plans.
Cajuste made 26 starts and seven sub appearances for the Blues during 2024/25, scoring once, and was beaten to the Supporters Player of the Year award by Liam Delap by only 36 votes.