Galatasaray may be enduring one of the worst seasons of their entire history – a team used to titles hovering just two places above the relegation zone – but Xavi Hernandez was not leaving anything to chance ahead of last week’s Europa League round-of-16 second-leg tie in Istanbul.
Not with Kerem Akturkoglu in the Gala line-up.
Having scored 11 goals and set up nine more, Akturkoglu is one of the few players to emerge from this wreckage of a campaign unscathed. So much so that it would be a massive surprise if the 23-year-old did not end the summer as the most expensive export in Galatasaray’s history.
According to Aksam, there is already a North London battle taking place for Akturkoglu’s signature.
Wolfsburg and Lyon have reportedly submitted bids already for a player cash-strapped Gala value at £17 million – a fee higher than the one Stoke City paid to sign Badou N’diaye, currently the most expensive player in Cimbom history, back in January 2018.
Is Kerem Akturkoglu heading to the Premier League?
“I would like to draw attention to Kerem in particular. He is a very fast player,” said Xavi, who’s Barcelona side prevailed 2-1 in Turkey thanks to strikes from Pedri and an in-form Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Goal).
“(Akturkoglu) is one of the best players at Galatasaray. We took good precautions against him.
“Kerem has interesting talents. He is very good one on one. He gave everything in two matches, but I think we analysed Galatasaray well. We gave less opportunities.”
‘Opportunities’ were certainly in short supply for Akturkoglu when Barca came to town. He did have one chance though, bursting clear with a trademark explosion of acceleration before failing to beat Marc-Andre Ter Stegen between the sticks.
That moment alone is enough to explain why Xavi was so desperate to stop him at source. Akturkoglu might have missed his one and only opening against Barcelona but he doesn’t usually need a second chance to make his mark.
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