Galatasaray announces transfer strategy as ex‑coach discloses missed Haaland deal

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk said the club will add three attackers and one defender in the upcoming transfer window. He confirmed that talks are ongoing for several players, including Mauro Icardi (whose contract is ending), Bruno Fernandes, Can Uzun, Julio Enciso, Lemina, Lesley Ugochukwu and Singo. Buruk also confirmed that Davinson Sanchez and Gabriel Sara will remain at the club and that the foreign‑player quota continues to shape recruitment decisions.

The club announced that Icardi’s contract will not be renewed, issuing a farewell statement praising his 77 goals in 134 matches. Buruk noted that the new foreign‑player regulation requires careful planning of age‑category slots.

Former Galatasaray manager Fatih Terim revealed that the club once scouted Erling Haaland while he was at Molde and received a positive report. He said the scouting team, including Necati Ateş and Ümit Davala, travelled to Norway, but the transfer failed because of the club’s budget limits at the time. Terim also proposed a new yellow‑card rule, allowing a coach to select which of the next four matches a suspended player will sit out, aiming to give teams tactical flexibility during crucial fixtures.