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Istanbul clubs have intensified efforts to reinforce their squads during the January transfer window, as Fenerbahce targets Atalanta’s Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman, while Galatasaray pursues Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte on loan, Turkish media reported.
The Yellow Canaries reportedly initiated talks with the Italian club over a €25 million ($29.43 million) offer for Lookman, while the Lions are exploring a loan deal for Ugarte, according to reports.
According to the Turkish daily Sabah, negotiations between Fenerbahce and Atalanta are ongoing, with both sides working toward a final agreement as talks continue to progress positively.
Lookman is reportedly open to the move and sees Fenerbahce as a potential next step in his career, while the Italian club has responded to the initial offer by requesting €40 million.
As part of his assessment, Lookman reportedly consulted Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen, his teammate on the Nigeria national team, for insight into life and football in Türkiye. He also contacted former Everton teammate Cenk Tosun, who is understood to have given a positive view of both the Super Lig and Fenerbahce.
Lookman, 28, had a slow start to the season with 3 goals and 1 assist in 16 appearances, as a strained relationship with former coach Ivan Juric limited his playing time and affected his form.
Early reports in the Turkish media also suggested that Galatasaray, the archrival of Fenerbahce, had added him to its shortlist for the January transfer window.
On the other hand, Fenerbahce's archrival Galatasaray is seeking to secure Manuel Ugarte, 24, as part of a loan deal from Manchester United, Türkiye daily reported.
Ugarte, who joined the English club from Paris Saint-Germain last season for €50 million, has struggled for regular playing time and has featured in only 12 official matches without scoring under coach Ruben Amorim.
Galatasaray faces competition from Ligue 1 club Lyon and Italy’s Napoli for the Uruguayan midfielder. To bolster its chances, the club has reportedly turned to goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and midfielder Lucas Torreira, who are also Ugarte’s national teammates, to help persuade him to make the move to Türkiye.
The transfer efforts by both clubs come as the Turkish Super Lig title race intensifies, with the reigning champions narrowly ahead of Fenerbahce midway through the season.
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