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Galatasaray is actively pursuing new midfield reinforcements during the January transfer window, focusing efforts on Milan’s Youssouf Fofana, Inter’s Hakan Calhanoglu, and Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika.
The Turkish club aims to boost its midfield depth ahead of the UEFA Champions League knockout stage and the second half of the Turkish Super Lig.
Deputy Chairman Abdullah Kavukcu is currently in Italy for in-person negotiations and is aiming to return to Türkiye with concrete progress on at least one transfer deal, according to Turkish media reports.
Milan has given formal permission for 27-year-old French defensive midfielder Youssouf Fofana to engage in talks with Galatasaray. However, the Serie A club’s €40 million transfer fee and the player’s financial demands have emerged as key challenges.
Galatasaray has reportedly offered Fofana an annual salary of €5 million ($5.8 million), up from his current €3.6 million at Milan. The player, however, is said to be requesting €8 million per year in return for a move. Kavukcu and Gardi are attempting to negotiate both the transfer fee down to the €20–25 million range and the player’s wage demands to a more manageable level.
Fofana, who joined Milan from Monaco in August 2024 for €26 million, has featured in 21 matches this season, contributing one goal and three assists.
Galatasaray has also approached Inter for 31-year-old Turkish international Hakan Calhanoglu, who has reportedly agreed to the transfer in principle. However, Inter has expressed reluctance to part ways with the midfielder mid-season and is reportedly demanding €30 million to release him.
Galatasaray is prepared to offer between €12 million and €15 million to finalize the deal. A similar standoff occurred during the summer transfer window, during which Inter retained the player, who remains under contract for another year.
While Calhanoglu’s willingness to join Galatasaray is seen as a key advantage, the Istanbul club must either meet Inter’s valuation or delay the transfer until the summer. Both clubs are expected to revisit discussions in the coming weeks.
In parallel negotiations, Galatasaray has opened official talks with Belgian side Club Brugge over 23-year-old Nigerian midfielder Raphael Onyedika.
With an estimated market value of €20 million, Onyedika is being considered as a secondary target in case the Fofana or Calhanoglu negotiations collapse.
Club Brugge initially demanded €25 million for the player, but Galatasaray has reportedly lowered that figure to €23 million through negotiations.
The Super Lig club is expected to offer Onyedika a four-year contract, with an optional fifth year.
Onyedika, a teammate of the Turkish side's Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen on the national team, has featured in 24 matches, scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist.
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