Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Fulham have entered the race for Portuguese midfielder Gedson Fernandes, reports Italian outlet Calciomercato.
Fernandes emerged as a bright young talent back in 2018 with Benfica. In his early years at the Eagles, he earned himself a call-up to the Portugal national team at just 19 years old.
This form prompted Tottenham Hotspur to make a move for the youngster on an 18-month loan.
However, his time in England didn’t work out, and he made just 14 appearances for Spurs before being recalled with six months remaining on his deal.
Following another loan spell at Galatasaray, Fernandes departed Benfica permanently in February 2022, joining Besiktas. He has made 27 appearances for the Turkish side this season, assisting four goals.
He could now be set for a return to the Premier League with Villa, Crystal Palace and Fulham all interested in the midfielder.
The Villans have enjoyed a fine run in 2023, propelling themselves up to sixth place. If they wish to maintain this for next season while competing in Europe, additional depth will be required.
Fulham have made a fine return to the top flight, staying well clear of relegation danger.
However, a recent run of five consecutive defeats has raised some concerns about next season. New faces will be welcome at Craven Cottage.
Palace have been in a relegation battle, but wins in their last two outings have taken them six points clear of the drop zone. If they survive, the London club will be eager to avoid a similar situation next year.
But Fernandes isn’t just attracting interest from England, as Serie A duo Lazio and Roma have also been linked.
Both clubs currently occupy top four spots in the league and would likely be a more attractive proposition if they qualify for the Champions League.
Besiktas will demand a fee of around €13 million and a sell-on clause for the 24-year-old.
