Istanbul: The Turkish newspaper Sözc revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is personally following the developments in negotiations regarding the transfer of Egyptian star Mohamed Salah to Turkish club Besiktas. The newspaper reported today that Erdogan received a briefing from Besiktas president Serdar Adli regarding the deal, which is considered important for promoting Turkey. The report indicated that Erdogan was informed of the progress of the negotiations. According to National Iraqi News Agency, Besiktas's management has intensified its efforts to finalize the deal with Salah, having come close to reaching an agreement with him. Negotiations are ongoing with his agent, Ramy Abbas, to finalize the details of the commission, which has delayed the announcement of the agreement in recent times. The newspaper added that a move by the club has sparked fan speculation: the decision to give the new arrival the number 20 jersey instead of the number 11 he wore after joining from Monaco. This numb er is associated with Mohamed Salah during his time at Liverpool, which observers consider a further indication of his imminent transfer to the Turkish team. The deal faces competition from clubs in the United States and Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that Saudi club Al-Ittihad is monitoring Salah's situation, but his transfer hinges on the final decision of French winger Moussa Diaby regarding his future with the team. Despite this interest, Turkish reports suggest that Besiktas still holds the advantage in the race to sign Salah, given the player's desire to experience life in Istanbul. Negotiations are ongoing, with a final agreement expected in the coming days.