Besiktas, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and the Turkish arms race

Besiktas, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and the Turkish arms race

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Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, and Galatasaray are all making major moves this summer as the transfer market arms race at the top of Turkish football heats up.

By Graham Ruthven

There is a type of player that feels like a natural fit for Turkish football. It can be difficult to define what makes that player perfect for the Turkish game, but you know one when you see one. It feels right, for example, that Emmanuel Adebayor had a spell in the country and somehow wrong that David Luiz never did. 

Jhon Durán is the latest big name to join a Turkish club, signing for Fenerbahće just six months after he joined Al-Nassr in a £71m deal from Aston Villa, yet his arrival feels different. There is a transfer market arms race unfolding at the top of Turkish football that could see many more surprising deals completed.

Last season’s final league table – with Galatasaray claiming a third straight title

Victor Osimhen could be the most surprising of the lot. The Nigerian spent last season on loan at Galatasaray amid a messy situation at Napoli, but most assumed this was a temporary solution for a striker widely considered one of the best anywhere in the world in his position. At some point, it was believed, one of Europe’s elite would make their move.

Instead, Osimhen is reportedly close to making his stay in Istanbul a permanent one with Galatasaray negotiating with Napoli over a €75m transfer. That would make the 26-year-old the most expensive player in Turkish SüperLig history and would signal the division is a viable destination for the sport’s brightest stars.

Osimhen topped the Süperlig goalscoring charts last season

İlkay Gündoğan is another elite level player who could pitch up at Galatasaray this summer. Reports claim The Lions have agreed personal terms with the German midfielder who could leave Manchester City for the right price. Gündoğan might be entering the twilight of his career, but he would still be a statement signing for the Turkish champions.

Then there’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu who missed the Club World Cup for Inter Milan amid interest from Galatasaray. A deal has still to be agreed for the Turkish international, but there is an underlying sense that Çalhanoğlu is destined to join Galatasaray this summer as one of the centrepieces of their ambitious rebuild.

Galatasaray also require a new starting goalkeeper following the departure of Fernando Muslera at the end of last season. José Sá and Yann Sommer have both been linked with a move to the Ali Sami Yen Stadium, suggesting the club intends on adding a shot-stopper who is experienced at the top level of the European game.

Fenerbahçe are pursuing a number of eye-catching deals of their own with Durán already over the line. It’s been reported that Marcus Rashford could be a target with Leandro Trossard also linked. Leon Bailey is another Premier League wide man believed to be on Fener’s radar although Marco Asensio has reportedly rejected a switch to Istanbul.

Archie Brown’s signing said something about the attraction Turkish football now holds in the transfer market. The young English defender was on his way to AC Milan from Gent until a call from Fenerbahçe changed his mind. The Turkish club’s announcement video even featured two planes (one yellow and blue, the other red and black), making a jab at AC Milan.

Archie Brown’s player traits comparison

The nature of the rivalry at the top of Turkish football means that wherever Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray do, Beşiktaş have to attempt to match. The Black Eagles broke the Turkish transfer record to land Orkun Kökçü from Benfica with Donyell Malen, Mehdi Taremi, Jadon Sancho and Kyle Walker-Peters just some of the other names reportedly on their radar.

Of course, it’s not just big-name players that Turkish clubs are targeting. José Mourinho is entering his second season as Fenerbahçe manager. The same is true of Ole Gunnar Solskjær at Beşiktaş. Mourinho’s arrival in particular was a seismic moment in the Turkish SüperLig with the Portuguese still as good at grabbing headlines as he ever was.

At a time when the Saudi Pro League is making a case for itself as the best destination for the best players in the world outside Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues, Türkiye’s biggest clubs are demonstrating more ambition than ever before. And with every elite level player signed it becomes easier to attract the next one.

Türkiye is a football nation. The sport is an obsession in the country of 85 million people and so Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray’s transfer dealings might not be a sign of overachievement, but an indication that the Turkish SüperLig is starting to truly fulfil its potential as one of the strongest leagues in Europe.

Alternatively, it could prove to be a flash in the transfer market pan just as it was in the past when the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Franck Ribery and Nicolas Anelka came and went. Osimhen, Durán, Gündoğan and a few others could add their names to a list that may or may not include David Luiz. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Süperlig with FotMob next season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Besiktas, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and the Turkish arms race

Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, and Galatasaray are all making major moves this summer as the transfer market arms race at the top of Turkish football heats up.

By Graham Ruthven

There is a type of player that feels like a natural fit for Turkish football. It can be difficult to define what makes that player perfect for the Turkish game, but you know one when you see one. It feels right, for example, that Emmanuel Adebayor had a spell in the country and somehow wrong that David Luiz never did. 

Jhon Durán is the latest big name to join a Turkish club, signing for Fenerbahće just six months after he joined Al-Nassr in a £71m deal from Aston Villa, yet his arrival feels different. There is a transfer market arms race unfolding at the top of Turkish football that could see many more surprising deals completed.

Last season’s final league table – with Galatasaray claiming a third straight title

Victor Osimhen could be the most surprising of the lot. The Nigerian spent last season on loan at Galatasaray amid a messy situation at Napoli, but most assumed this was a temporary solution for a striker widely considered one of the best anywhere in the world in his position. At some point, it was believed, one of Europe’s elite would make their move.

Instead, Osimhen is reportedly close to making his stay in Istanbul a permanent one with Galatasaray negotiating with Napoli over a €75m transfer. That would make the 26-year-old the most expensive player in Turkish SüperLig history and would signal the division is a viable destination for the sport’s brightest stars.

Osimhen topped the Süperlig goalscoring charts last season

İlkay Gündoğan is another elite level player who could pitch up at Galatasaray this summer. Reports claim The Lions have agreed personal terms with the German midfielder who could leave Manchester City for the right price. Gündoğan might be entering the twilight of his career, but he would still be a statement signing for the Turkish champions.

Then there’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu who missed the Club World Cup for Inter Milan amid interest from Galatasaray. A deal has still to be agreed for the Turkish international, but there is an underlying sense that Çalhanoğlu is destined to join Galatasaray this summer as one of the centrepieces of their ambitious rebuild.

Galatasaray also require a new starting goalkeeper following the departure of Fernando Muslera at the end of last season. José Sá and Yann Sommer have both been linked with a move to the Ali Sami Yen Stadium, suggesting the club intends on adding a shot-stopper who is experienced at the top level of the European game.

Fenerbahçe are pursuing a number of eye-catching deals of their own with Durán already over the line. It’s been reported that Marcus Rashford could be a target with Leandro Trossard also linked. Leon Bailey is another Premier League wide man believed to be on Fener’s radar although Marco Asensio has reportedly rejected a switch to Istanbul.

Archie Brown’s signing said something about the attraction Turkish football now holds in the transfer market. The young English defender was on his way to AC Milan from Gent until a call from Fenerbahçe changed his mind. The Turkish club’s announcement video even featured two planes (one yellow and blue, the other red and black), making a jab at AC Milan.

Archie Brown’s player traits comparison

The nature of the rivalry at the top of Turkish football means that wherever Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray do, Beşiktaş have to attempt to match. The Black Eagles broke the Turkish transfer record to land Orkun Kökçü from Benfica with Donyell Malen, Mehdi Taremi, Jadon Sancho and Kyle Walker-Peters just some of the other names reportedly on their radar.

Of course, it’s not just big-name players that Turkish clubs are targeting. José Mourinho is entering his second season as Fenerbahçe manager. The same is true of Ole Gunnar Solskjær at Beşiktaş. Mourinho’s arrival in particular was a seismic moment in the Turkish SüperLig with the Portuguese still as good at grabbing headlines as he ever was.

At a time when the Saudi Pro League is making a case for itself as the best destination for the best players in the world outside Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues, Türkiye’s biggest clubs are demonstrating more ambition than ever before. And with every elite level player signed it becomes easier to attract the next one.

Türkiye is a football nation. The sport is an obsession in the country of 85 million people and so Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray’s transfer dealings might not be a sign of overachievement, but an indication that the Turkish SüperLig is starting to truly fulfil its potential as one of the strongest leagues in Europe.

Alternatively, it could prove to be a flash in the transfer market pan just as it was in the past when the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Franck Ribery and Nicolas Anelka came and went. Osimhen, Durán, Gündoğan and a few others could add their names to a list that may or may not include David Luiz. 

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Süperlig with FotMob next season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.