Besiktas are reportedly close to completing the loan signing of former Blues loanee Jens Cajuste from Napoli.

TWTD was first to reveal that the Turkish side were leading the chase for the Sweden international’s signature just over a week ago.

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Istanbul-based side are now closing in on concluding their move for the 26-year-old, paying an initial €1 million (£863,000) loan fee with a €6.5 million (£5.6 million) buy option. Final details and payment terms are said to being worked on.

Cajuste impressed for Town while on loan during 2024/25 and the Blues were among those who made an approach this summer, but with manager Kieran McKenna having admitted at the end of the season that “there’s probably a lot to do for that to happen”.

The Gothenburg-born midfielder isn’t in Napoli head coach Antonio Conte’s plans and the Serie A champions were happy to let him depart permanently for €10 million (£8.52 million) this summer, according to Italian reports.

Cajuste, who has another three years on his Napoli contract, 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.

Italian sides Udinese and Fiorentina are also understood to have shown interest, while French clubs and Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Burnley and Crystal Palace were linked.

Photo: Matchday Images

Juggsy added 15:33 - Jul 5 Weird
1

Cookieboy added 15:33 - Jul 5 Surely the figures that are mentioned are within are price range. Just couldn't be that interested !!!!! Would be good business and a fair price in our quest to get promoted.
2

PortmanTerrorist added 15:34 - Jul 5 Jens and 6 Toes. Each shone for us, but not quite enough to make a difference. Both appreciated but we shall and must move on!
0

blues1 added 15:44 - Jul 5 Cookieboy. Pretty sure,we were interested. Guessing tho, that he didn't want to play in the championship. A shame but think we all pretty much suspected he may not return.
1

cressi added 16:30 - Jul 5 The biggest problem is we have 46 league games 2 per week we need players to be robust and play lots of 90 minute games can't manage players minutes the best players need to available most games.
2

bigolconnor added 16:33 - Jul 5 I would imagine he will come back to us when we get back up there. With the European experience we will need for the season following that.
1

Mark added 16:50 - Jul 5 I believe our deal last year was reportedly a £1.3m loan fee with a £10m option to buy. It seems he has nearly halved in value since then!
0

tetchris added 17:41 - Jul 5 I don’t think he fits the mould of the new type of player MA has alluded too that we need to get back to the PL and stay there
1

muhrensleftfoot added 17:47 - Jul 5 I'm not too disappointed. His ongoing fitness is always a concern. If it wasn't I expect he would be more in demand, and also more expensive
2

shadoof1016 added 17:55 - Jul 5 Superb piece of business to not sign a very average player in my view, way too slow for Premier or the Championship. Signing for a Turkish side imo is the death knoll for a player and truly shows he was not for us. From what I hear the Chelsea loanee forward will be coming very shortly and will be a great signing for the season……ie the reason Hirst received a four year deal. I trust McKenna and Ashton have things in hand. Roll on three points at St Andrews COYB

1

chepstowblue added 18:08 - Jul 5 Too good for us unfortunately whilst we're in the second tier. He'd be playing at a level well below his ability. But, why anybody would choose to go to Turkey is beyond my comprehension!
2

darkhorse28 added 19:12 - Jul 5 He’s a fantastic player, and without the fitness issues, he’d be much higher up the pyramid than both clubs. They’ve done a great deal. We now have one 34 year old in the engine room of the team .., it’s really poor planning, strategic thinking and contingency, no other way to describe it, we’ve had money, we’ve brought in scores of players. It’s like we drank the media kool aid, and thought there was zero chance of relegation. I wonder if Townsend could play left side in the double pivot. Great professional, great positionally, not sure what he’s like on the half turn, and it’s a very different job playing side on, and facing your own goal…, but he seems to have some of the attributes, or perhaps Johnson .., even with a signings two, it’s going to be a completely untested ‘engine room’ for some time to come. Would be nice to play a 3 some games and have two number 8’s but can’t see McKenna changing tactics at this point. Would be great to see Humphreys and Taylor in their 8 role alongside Sam. Never say never I guess.

-4

ITFC_Singapore added 19:19 - Jul 5 I'm not desperately disappointed by this. All things being equal it would have been nice to have him back and he did fairly well last season, but nothing life changing. I feel confident we can get at least an equivalent and likely a better player in that position.
0

Rimsy added 19:20 - Jul 5 Well, for the fees involved, we surely could of competed. So that means he did'nt want to come back, fair enough we only want players committed to playing for us.
2

Linkboy13 added 19:48 - Jul 5 He's a fantastic player that's why Napoli don't want him . If youve supported Town as long as me and seen the likes of Thyssen, Muhren, Viljoen,Wark and many more you would know what a fantastic player is but i guess many on here have been starved of such luxuries. Cajuste is a ok player who looked alright in a very poor side but he's no world beater .
2

tractorboybig added 20:08 - Jul 5 who cares? he was never coming here
0

flykickingbybgunn added 20:31 - Jul 5 Bugg.r
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barrystedmunds added 20:51 - Jul 5 Like most, not really fussed; but I am intrigued as to who, if anyone, we are lining up. If we are serious about a push for a return to the promised land for me a complete overall of the midfield is an essential. No disrespect to Sam, but at 34 I think his better days are behind him and that is an area I hope we’re seriously looking at. Time, not much of it, will tell.

3

Millsey added 21:03 - Jul 5 If he wants money instead of a decent level of football, then stuff him
1

Monkey_Blue added 00:49 - Jul 6 Loan deal in Jan? An awful lot of players seem to go to Turkey for the cash and quickly decide it’s not for them. The standard of the league, pitches and most of the stadiums are pretty poor. They also have to deal with the fans… let’s just say they make Millwall fans seem calm and enlightened.
0

Bazza8564 added 08:42 - Jul 6 Good player but I thought with a couple of games to go his mind was already on the beach. If it doesnt happen, ceste la vie, I won't lose sleep about it. MA knows his value and Napoli are clearly asking beyond our valuation. We move on. Next!
1

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