It looks like Besiktas will not be signing Alex Grimaldo from Leverkusen after all. The defender had been heavily linked throughout the window, but the deal is now dead in the water. Reasons for the collapse remain unclear, though it marks a blow to Besiktas's plans to bolster their squad. Talks broke down before a deal could be reached with Besiktas, leaving the door open for clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to step in. Defensively, Besiktas are sitting around the league average this season, at 1.2 goals conceded per game. Someone like Alex Grimaldo could keep them steady but also raise the level when it matters most. Speculation continues to connect Besiktas with Edon Zhegrova and Altay Bayindir while no fresh rumours surround Leverkusen. More on this story as it develops. Need more Besiktas transfer rumours? Follow @PlayerSwitchCom on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news from Besiktas.