Besiktas consider loan move for Real Madrid star Luka Jovic

Real Madrid centre-forward Luka Jovic has reportedly emerged as a loan target for Turkish outfit Besiktas this summer.

According to AS, Besiktas are considering the possibility of signing Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic on a season-long loan in the summer transfer window as they look to strengthen their attacking unit.

Jovic’s three-year stint at Real Madrid, since arriving in a big-money deal from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, has been nothing short of a disaster. The 24-year-old striker has failed to make any sort of mark during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, while a loan return to Eintracht during the second half of the 2020/21 season failed to help him turn things around.

Jovic was touted for an exit last summer, but Carlo Ancelotti gave the Serbian international another opportunity. However, Karim Benzema’s brilliant form meant that the striker did not get enough chances. And on the rare occasions he started, the 24-year-old did not make the greatest impression, finishing the season with just one goal and three assists from 19 games.

Jovic finds himself out of favour at Real Madrid, with Los Blancos likely to back Borja Mayoral and Juanmi Latasa as backup options for Benzema this summer. The Serbian ace is linked with a move to Italy, where Fiorentina hold a strong interest. But now, Besiktas have also emerged as an alternate destination for the striker.

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Besiktas are in the market for a new centre-forward this summer and have several names on their shortlist. The Turkish heavyweights are working hard to get the signings of Alexander Sorloth and Wout Weghorst this summer. And if they fail to get either of the two strikers, Besiktas plan to initiate talks to sign Jovic from Real Madrid.

Jovic still has three years left on his contract with Real Madrid, and even though Los Blancos would likely prefer a direct sale, Besiktas are confident of securing a loan deal by paying a fee of around €1.5 million.

But with Fiorentina pushing heavily to sign Jovic, the Turkish outfit will have a challenge at their hands to get the deal over the line. Jovic has featured 51 times for Real Madrid and managed a paltry tally of three goals. And an exit is definitely on the cards this summer. It will be interesting to see if he ends up in Italy or Turkey, or even France, where AS Monaco are keen on signing him.