Kasimpasa confident of Keane capture

Turkish club Kasimpasa were confident of striking a deal with Roy Keane to become their new manager last night, having held extensive negotiations with the former Irish midfielder throughout the day.

After surprising the football world by flying into Ataturk airport on Monday night to discuss the move, Keane spent yesterday meeting with the Kasimpasa chairman and the board of directors before then touring the stadium and training facilities.

The prospect of a Blackburn Rovers offer to Keane still hangs over the situation but the Kasimpasa board are understood to feel they have put forward a hugely persuasive proposition, which is believed to include a contract offer of £1.4m a year.

Most obviously, despite the general surprise at starting discussions with such an unfashionable club in the Turkish league, Keane is known to have always been open-minded about trying out new surroundings and experiences.

In his autobiography, he famously stated how keen he was to sample the cultures at either Bayern Munich or Juventus when his Manchester United contract was running down in the 1999-2000 season.

As such, with the area only separated from Istanbul by the Golden Horn, the move may well tick a box as regards offering an enticing new experience.

Secondly, given how vocal Keane has been about financial backing from club officials in the past, transfer funds are unlikely to be any problem at Kasimpasa. Although the club have a very moderate history, they now enjoy the backing of many wealthy local businessmen and are also supported by Turkey’s prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The very fact they are capable of spending significant money is signalled by their handsome offer to Keane.

For his part, the Corkman wants to properly weigh up the pros and cons of any decision, having regretted his move to Ipswich Town.