Scouting former Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez, now at Besiktas, Manchester United may have stumbled across a more realistic signing.

Former Arsenal midfielder Oguzhan Özyakup has caught the eye with the Turkish club, where he has developed into a crucial player. This season alone, the 23-year-old has scored five and assisted five in 15 Turkish Super Lig appearances and reportedly attracted the attention of Manchester United scouts who were at a game to watch Gomez.

Özyakup left London in 2012 after limited opportunities to play first team football, and has since developed incredibly well. He is seen as a crucial part of the Besiktas side and is now a regular for Turkey, who will be at Euro 2016 in the summer.

Earlier this season, the midfielder denied any interest in a transfer, but Besiktas would be powerless should a strong and rich club come in for him this month. Their president has confessed as much, so could we see him at Old Trafford when we play there in February?

That still seems a long way off, especially as United may well have a new manager with Louis van Gaal under pressure to deliver improved results and performances soon. Regardless, the team has looked blunt going forward this season and Özyakup could provide some attacking flair without costing too much.

He’s going to be linked with a number of clubs in the near future, and it would be a surprise to see Manchester United sign him but stranger things have happened.