Former Arsenal midfielder, Oguzhan Ozyakup is reportedly choosing to stay with Besiktas, turning down advances from Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Valencia and even Arsenal.

The Turkish international signed for Besiktas from Arsenal back in 2012 and now, at the grand old age of 23, he’s turning heads.

In the Turkish League last season, Ozyakup, who spent three years in our academy before being promoted to the senior squad in 2011, scored nine goals and assisted seven in 31 appearances. Now, given he’s primarily a central midfielder, this is pretty exciting.

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Turkey’s midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup reacts at the end of the Euro 2016 group D football match between Czech Republic and Turkey at Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens on June 21, 2016 (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

The likes of Borussia Dortmund, Valencia, Milan and even Arsenal have all been linked with him but, according to reports, he wants to stay with Besiktas.

If the claims are true, is this him being loyal to the club that persevered with him from the age of 19? Or is he just scared of competing for spots? With Besiktas it’s safe, he knows his place and he knows he’ll continued playing and most likely improving as he develops. If he joined a big European club, it’d be considerably harder to get game time.

Did Arsenal genuinely want him back? I doubt it. I’ve not heard anything substantial that convinces me we were. I’m not sure if even half the clubs listed by the media were interested. But he’s doing well. Good on him.