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Galatasaray has found the number 10 it had been searching for, agreeing a deal to sign Russian playmaker Aleksey Batrakov from Lokomotiv Moscow.
The Istanbul club will pay a transfer fee of €30 million ($34.7 million) for the 21-year-old, ending a lengthy negotiation with his Russian club. Batrakov will earn a guaranteed annual salary of €3.5 million, with performance bonuses of up to €1 million included in the deal. The contract runs for four years.
Galatasaray had been without a natural number 10 for an extended period following the departure of Dries Mertens, and the club's pursuit of a replacement included earlier interest in Can Uzun and Bruno Fernandes.
Both moves stalled after their clubs demanded high transfer fees, prompting the Dursun Ozbek-led management to shift its focus to Batrakov.
Batrakov is set to travel to Istanbul during the week to complete the move, with an official signing to follow a medical examination. The club hopes he will be available for Galatasaray's away match against Erzurumspor on August 21.
Batrakov's current market value stands at €28 million, and reports indicate he is expected to arrive in playing condition.
Separately, Galatasaray is also working to finalize a deal for Noa Lang, a left-wing option under consideration by the club. The Napoli winger, who spent the second half of last season on loan, is said to favor a move to Galatasaray and is awaiting an agreement between the two clubs.
Napoli has reportedly lowered its asking price to €20 million, while Galatasaray is aiming to close the deal at €15 million.
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