---
title: "West Ham join Arsenal in race for €20m-rated midfielder"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2015/10/11/west-ham-join-arsenal-race-e20m-rated-midfielder/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Michael Oliver"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2015-10-11T13:05:20Z"
modified: "2015-10-11T13:05:20Z"
---

# West Ham join Arsenal in race for €20m-rated midfielder

West Ham have joined Arsenal in the race to sign €20m-rated midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup from Besiktas.

According to Turkish news outlet [Fanatik](https://www.fanatik.com.tr/2015/10/03/gokhan-tore-ve-oguzhana-yakin-takip-622969), Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is a huge fan of the player, and wants to work with him again in East London when the January transfer window re-opens.

Ozyakup signed for Besiktas before Bilic arrived for a reported €500,000 back in 2012 from Arsenal, where he was quickly made into a first-term regular and an integral pat of their squad.

![Dan Istitene/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readwestham.com/readwestham/2015/10/110289049.jpg)

Having joined Arsenal’s academy in 2008 after developing in The Netherlands with AZ Alkmaar, Ozyakup never made a first-team appearance for the Gunners in his four years at the club, forcing him to move away.

Now, having impressed in Turkey with Besiktas, and switching his international allegiance from Holland to Turkey, becoming a key part of their squad going forward, the 23-year-old is back on Arsenal’s radar.

However, the Gunners will face a battle with West Ham for the £14.8m-rated midfielder.

The chance to work with Bilic again, whom he thrived under, could sway the player from making a return to Arsenal, the club that once had given up on him.