Italiano deal in final stretch
Beşiktaş are closing in on Vincenzo Italiano as your next head coach. The club has reached a preliminary agreement with the Italian manager, with multiple Turkish outlets reporting talks have accelerated in the last 24 hours (3) (7) (8). The offer is on the table and Italiano is said to be responding positively (7). This is moving fast.
What Italiano brings to Vodafone Park
If the deal crosses the line, you're getting a coach whose DNA is built on attacking football. Italiano's teams press high, play with intensity, and prioritise forward momentum, exactly the kind of philosophy the squad restructuring seems designed for (5). He's also reportedly prioritising the Beşiktaş project over other interest, including from Juventus circles (9).
Laurienté linked as winger clear-out looms
Beşiktaş are reportedly interested in Sassuolo winger Armand Laurienté as the club plans a major reshuffle of its wide options (2). Decisions have already been made on Cengiz Ünder and Milot Rashica, and Laurienté appears to be a key target to refresh the attacking line.
Goalkeeper search: José Sá on the radar
The club is exploring a free transfer for Wolves goalkeeper José Sá. The 33-year-old Portugal international could arrive without a fee, making him an attractive option as Beşiktaş looks to strengthen between the posts (4). Meanwhile, homegrown keeper Ersin Destanoğlu is waiting on the club's decision about his future before making his next move (6).
Fan reactions
The mood among Beşiktaş supporters is a mix of cautious optimism and growing impatience. Some fans worry that each new foreign coach gets less patience than the last, and there's a sense the fanbase is tired of short-lived projects. Others are already digging into Italiano's tactical profile, with one supporter publishing a detailed breakdown of what his high-intensity system could look like at Vodafone Park. The reaction over on r/soccer from Fiorentina fans suggests Italiano is a coach who'll leave an impression. Read the discussion here.
