West Ham boss confirms interest in Besiktas pair

Atiba Hutchinson: Wanted by Bilic

Atiba Hutchinson: Wanted by Bilic

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has confirmed that he wants to sign Besiktas pair Atiba Hutchinson and Gokhan Tore.

“Yes I want Gokhan Tore and Atiba Hutchinson, they are both targets we also have others but they are major targets. Will it happen? nobody can say yet but we want him,” Bilic told Turkisd broadcaster Lig Tv after the Croatia’s 1-0 win over Turkey on Sunday.

“I want one transfer for both. More than one thing has to happen for this deal. When a club wants a player it depends on how much [Besiktas] want to sell a player and how much they are asking.

“There is a lot written in the Turkish press that is untrue. But I know them [Tore and Hutchinson], I spent two years with them.”

Bilic knows Canada international Hutchinson, 33, well from his time with Beskitas with Hutchinson establishing himself as a key member of Bilic’s side during his two-year spell in charge.

Hutchinson, who can play as a holding midfielder or right-back, has another year remaining on his current contract, but Besiktas have yet to enter contact extension talks with him and Bilic is hopeful of luring the player to the Olympic Stadium.

Gokhan Tore

Meanwhile, Turkey international Tore, 24, is also a friend of Bilic and West Ham are reportedly in discussions with Beskitas over a fee for both players with Tore believed to be worth around £12million.

Tore did not make Turkey’s 23-man Eupr 2016 squad, but Bilic is a big admirer of the former Hamburg man.