Turkish giants Galatasaray are making ambitious moves in the transfer market, reportedly engaging in talks to sign two high-profile midfielders: Thomas Partey from Arsenal and Ilkay Gündoğan from Manchester City, TBR Football understands.
Thomas Partey, 32, is set to depart Arsenal as a free agent this summer after failing to agree to a new contract with Mikel Arteta’s side. The Gunners are reportedly eyeing Brentford’s Christian Nørgaard as a potential replacement for the Ghanaian international, who made 52 appearances across all competitions last season. Partey’s future could also lie with Galatasaray’s fierce rivals, Fenerbahçe, who are also reportedly in discussions for his services.
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Meanwhile, Ilkay Gündoğan, 34, is another significant target for the Turkish champions. Despite making 50 appearances in Manchester City’s midfield last season following his return from Barcelona, and having signed a two-year deal, his tenure at the Etihad might be cut short if Galatasaray has its way.
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey reports that Galatasaray initiated contact with Gündoğan prior to the Club World Cup. Sources confirm that Manchester City is open to the German midfielder’s potential departure, and a move to Turkey is believed to appeal to Gündoğan himself.
Galatasaray’s objective this summer is to secure at least one high-calibre midfielder. Both Gündoğan and Partey have reportedly been presented with initial offers during these ongoing discussions.
However, Galatasaray is also exploring other options. They are reportedly in talks with Inter Milan’s Turkish international Hakan Çalhanoğlu. The 30-year-old, who featured in 47 games for Inter last season, is understood to be strongly pushing for a move to Galatasaray this summer, adding another intriguing layer to the club’s midfield pursuit.
For Gündoğan, his role at Manchester City, while still significant, could be impacted by new midfield options. Despite Pep Guardiola praising Gündoğan’s “strong mentality” last October after a dominant Champions League win, especially noting his rebound from a difficult performance against Newcastle, the squad now boasts Nico González, a fully fit Rodri, and new signing Tijjani Reijnders in central areas. This added depth might encourage City to facilitate Gündoğan’s potential move to Turkey.
As Galatasaray pushes to solidify its midfield ahead of the new season, the coming weeks are expected to be pivotal in determining whether they can secure one or even both of these experienced European talents.
