After a prolonged lull on the transfer market, Istanbul’s Fenerbahçe is ready to make itself heard loudly. The club’s management is working on a grand scale, aiming to respond to arch-rival Galatasaray’s recent move for Leroy Sané. The Yellow-Navy Blues have no intention of falling behind and are about to detonate their own “bomb”—signing a big star who can immediately strengthen the side in the title race.
Unwavering Determination to Secure the Best
In the upcoming Süper Lig season, Fenerbahçe has only one objective—Turkey’s championship crown. To eliminate all doubt, the club intends to sign the highest-quality and most prolific centre-forward available. The scouting department is acting in full accordance with the report of new head coach José Mourinho, and the work is practically around the clock.
Buying the Player Outright Is Nearly Impossible
One of the main targets of the hunt is 21-year-old Colombian forward Jhon Duran, who, after moving to Saudi side Al-Nassr, has failed to settle: the player has encountered both sporting and personal issues. The Saudis paid a colossal €77 million for him and therefore are not ready to part with the footballer on a permanent basis. At present, a direct buy-out of Duran’s rights looks practically impossible.
Determined not to miss the opportunity, Fenerbahçe has activated a loan formula and has already sent Riyadh an official enquiry. Yet the Turks will face stiff competition: besides the Istanbulites, four other clubs are in for the Colombian. According to the English press, Premier League sides West Ham United, Fulham, and Wolverhampton Wanderers—where familiar face Vítor Pereira is in charge—are monitoring the situation, while in Italy, Serie A champions Napoli are also considering Duran as an addition. All the suitors share a common plan: to loan the striker with an option to buy should Al-Nassr soften its stance.
Notably, the statement that “Fenerbahçe will accept no outcome other than the championship in the new season” is repeated time and again—both the board and Mourinho emphasise it in every interview, raising the stakes of negotiations.
Awaiting Answer on Guessand
Another priority in attack is 23-year-old Frenchman Evann Guessand, who enjoyed a sparkling season with Nice: 13 goals and 10 assists in Ligue 1 did not go unnoticed. Fenerbahçe has already offered the French club about €20 million for a full transfer. Istanbul is currently holding its breath—the final answer from Nice is expected any day now. Reports say that other European clubs are also eyeing the forward, yet at the moment the Turkish giants provide the most attractive terms both to the player and to his current side.
Critical Hours for Kislyak
Besides the forward line, the Canaries (Fenerbahçe’s nickname) are keen to bolster the midfield. Falling within their sphere of interest is one of Russia’s most talented young midfielders—19-year-old Matvey Kislyak of CSKA Moscow. According to insider information, the player’s representatives have already flown to Istanbul, where they discussed in detail the footballer’s demands and the possible conditions of a deal. The Moscow club values its home-grown talent at more than €10 million, and if the Army Men give the green light, sources say Kislyak is enthusiastic about working under José Mourinho.
What Comes Next?
Negotiations on all three fronts—Duran, Guessand, and Kislyak—are progressing in parallel and at maximum intensity. The Istanbul club aims to fill key positions before pre-season camps begin so that the newcomers have time to adapt to the Portuguese manager’s requirements.
In total, the potential expenditure could become truly record-breaking for Turkish football, but the club stresses that price will not be an obstacle if the goal—returning the championship trophy to Şükrü Saracoğlu—is achieved. The fans can only wait for official announcements and hope that Fenerbahçe’s ambitious transfer counter-attack will once again force their rivals to look over their shoulders.
Against the backdrop of Galatasaray’s strengthening and the mounting pressure from Beşiktaş, such high-profile deals may prove to be the Yellow-Navy Blues’ trump card on the eve of what promises to be the most intriguing season of the past decade.
