According to reports by Turkish media outlet Haberler, Newcastle United are interested in signing Besiktas midfielder Tolgay Arslan this summer, but they could face competition from Bundesliga duo Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in a potential deal that could have a big bearing on Jonjo Shelvey's future.

What's the word, then?

Tolgay Arslan in action with Joao Moutinho

Well, even though the Tyneside outfit don't know which league they will be in next season as they find themselves amidst a Premier League relegation battle right now, Haberler reports that they are already lining up potential transfer deals for this summer and that Arslan is on their shortlist of targets.

Haberler says that the two German clubs are also interested in the 27-year-old, who has become a key player for the Turkish giants with his current contract with them not due to expire until 2022.

How has Arslan done this season?

The central midfielder has impressed in the middle of the park for Besiktas, making 33 appearances in all competitions, and was a reported Tottenham Hotspur target last year.

The 27-year-old started three of his side's six Champions League group games – it probably would have been more had it not been for illness and injury – while he was a late substitute in the 5-0 defeat against Bayern Munich in the first leg of their last 16 tie at the Allianz Arena last month.

According to WhoScored.com, the German's main strengths are his passing, ability to make key passes and his dribbling, and he has an average passing accuracy of 89.4% in 25 appearances in the Turkish Super Lig and in Europe this term.

He has also made 14 key passes and successfully completed 36 of the 45 dribbles he has attempted, while he has also won 51 tackles from a defensive point of view.

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Would he be a good signing for Newcastle?

He certainly would be.

Arslan obviously has a good range of passing and is a midfielder that can dictate the play and have a positive effect in terms of defending and creating.

The fact that he has played in the Champions League and is wanted by the likes of Dortmund show the quality he has, and point to the fact that he would be a huge success at St James' Park.

He sounds similar to Shelvey?

He is certainly similar, with his variety of passing and his ability dictate the tempo from the middle of the park just a couple of his main attributes.

The arrival of Arslan on Tyneside would certainly more than hint at a summer exit for the 26-year-old, rated at €10m (£8.9m) by Transfermarkt, who was heavily linked with a move to West Ham United during the January transfer window and who has already been sent off twice in the Premier League for the Magpies this term.