Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek has fueled speculation linking the club with a potential move for Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gündoğan.

While Özbek didn’t explicitly confirm Galatasaray’s interest, he acknowledged the club’s admiration for the talented German international of Turkish origin.

The Turkish club has been actively pursuing quality players in the transfer market and Gündoğan’s availability has caught their attention.

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“Gundogan is a very important football player. Galatasaray are also the most important team in Turkey,” he began saying as quoted by BeInSports.

“It is very natural to talk about it. There is no clear situation at the moment about İlkay leaving Barcelona or not.

Therefore, it is useless to comment on this issue at the moment. Ilkay’s situation needs to be clear first.

“Of course, we are following [his situation] closely,” he added.

Gündoğan’s future at Barcelona remains uncertain, with reports suggesting he may be open to a move away from the club. The midfielder has struggled to secure regular playing time and may seek a new challenge.

While Galatasaray’s interest is evident, it remains to be seen if they can successfully negotiate a deal with Barcelona. The Turkish club will face competition from other interested parties, both domestically and abroad.

Gündoğan’s decision will ultimately depend on several factors, including his personal preferences, the club’s sporting project, and the financial terms of any potential move.