“What a joke of a club” – Wolves step sees club walk away from transfer talks

Wolves have managed to upset Beşiktaş, and part of the Turkish sport media, during talks for Emmanuel Agbadou.

Beşiktaş have been looking to sign a defender in this window, and weeks ago their attention turned to Abgadou. Initially, it appeared a difficult transfer for the Turkish club to get over the line.

The 28-year-old had been a regular for Wolves before he left for AFCON. Therefore, parting ways with him during a relegation fight didn’t appear an obvious step.

Wolves then opened up to a transfer. The player and his agent showed clear interest in a move to Beşiktaş, and a route to a transfer was opened.

On January 16th, the defender’s agent was spotted – and pictured – at Istanbul airport. At that stage there was confidence a transfer was closing in.

Initially, and inevitably, Beşiktaş wanted a loan with an option. That then changed to them being willing to pay Wolves €14m.

On Friday, everything started to be a little strained.

Murat Özen, a member of Beşiktaş Club Congress, said Wolves were getting annoying. In addition, they were accused of ‘constantly raising’ their asking price, and doing so ‘on a whim’.

At that stage, the Turkish club had reached €16m plus a potential €1m in bonus payments. Confidence remained that a deal would quickly be agreed.

However, something clearly went wrong on Friday evening.

Wolves blasted as “joke of a club”

Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, one of the most prominent football journalists in Turkey, reported: “They agreed to €17m, then they said Beşiktaş should pay the approximately €1m ‘FIFA solidarity contribution fee’. Wolves are a joke of a club.”

Beşiktaş don’t want to pay that €1m and have walked away for now.

It does appear to be a case of tough negotiations on both sides, with the Turkish club clearly sharing their exasperation with their local media.

Despite that tantrum, it would be assumed Beşiktaş return to the negotiating table and try to please Wolves.