Walsall boss Dean Keates has today admitted that the club are already looking for replacements for Erhun Oztumer and conceded that he thanked him for his services to the club and wished him all the best for the future.
Speaking to Express And Star ; Keates said,
“The club were made aware in January that Ozzy wanted to see what offers were out there”
“In my conversation with him, I wished him all the best and thanked him for everything.”
“He is going to go out and see what options are out there. But, as I’ve said to him, he knows where the football club is.
“I have to look elsewhere though.”
Oztumer has been the most standout player during the last two mediocre seasons for the Saddlers where the man dubbed the “Turkish Messi” has scored thirty two goals in eighty two appearances.
Walsall board members admitted at the previous fans meeting that Oztumer had rejected three contract offers by the club.
The departure of Oztumer will leave a massive void in the side but with Keates looking to play 4-4-2 next season it will allow him not to “shoehorn” Oztumer into a formation like Whitney seemed to do.
