Besiktas have rejected West Ham’s recent £2.3m bid for midfielder Atiba Hutchinson, as reported by talkSPORT.
West Ham are in the market for midfield reinforcements after they decided against making Alex Song’s two-season loan spell permanent.
Hutchinson was a mainstay for Bilic when the Croat was in charge of the Turkish giants between 2013 and 2015, making 76 first team appearances in all competitions.
But Besiktas president Fikret Orman has revealed Bilic’s bid to be reunited with the 33-year-old Canada international has been rejected.
He said: “[Slaven] Bilic suggested €3m [£2.3m] for Atiba.
“We rejected this proposal and thank him. Atiba has one more year on his contract with us.”
West Ham will have to return with a larger offer if they’re to get their man, but it isn’t clear whether the club think it will be beneficial to pay any more than their initial bid for a player nearing the end of his career.
Bilic is also keen on signing Besiktas winger Gokhan Tore, who he rates extremely highly from his time at the club.
Only last week it was reported that the club were in advanced talks over a deal to bring Tore to the Olympic Stadium, but nothing has materialised since.
