Victor Nelsson has asked to leave Galatasaray after links with Premier League duo Aston Villa and Newcastle United, the Turksih club’s deputy chairman Erden Timur tells Haber Turk.
Talk about raining on Galatasaray’s parade.
While basking in the glow of a handful of highly impressive signings – Lucas Torreira, Dries Mertens, Sergio Oliveira, Leo Dubois and former AZ Alkmaar playmaker Fredrik Midtsjo – Nelsson’s bombshell serves to dampen the enthusiasm somewhat. A dark cloud hovering ominously over an otherwise blue sky.
The Denmark international centre-back was a bright spark in a dismal 2021/22 campaign for Turkey’s most successful club.
According to Takvim, Nelsson’s impressive performances caught the eye of Aston Villa. Johan Lange, Villa’s sporting director, knows the former Crystal Palace target from his time at Copenhagen.
Newcastle, meanwhile, were reportedly willing to spend £12 million on Nelsson earlier in the summer. La Liga giants Sevilla currently feel like the most obvious destination, however with the 2020 Europa League winners under pressure to replace the Barcelona-bound Jules Kounde (Marca).
Victor Nelsson linked with Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Sevilla
“We want Nelson to stay. Our plan is ready in case he leaves,” explains Timur. “Nelsson talked to me yesterday. He said he had dreams and wanted to go. (He said); ‘I want to reach a very important point in my career.’
“I said at our first meeting; ‘My mission, my duty is to make your dreams come true.’
“(But) I told Nelsson yesterday; ‘We believe in our dreams so much that we are now forming a great squad. You are a very important part of (our plans) here.’
“We want him to stay. Plan B is also ready.”
You can’t accuse Galatasaray of failing to prepare, at least. If Nelsson stays, great. If he goes, well Gala have planned for that too.
It remains to be seen if Aston Villa or Newcastle come calling for the £17 million-rated powerhouse before the window closes in September. Nelsson would not be guaranteed regular first-team football at either club, of course, with Diego Carlos and Sven Botman sealing big-money moves to Villa Park and St James’ respectively.
Newcastle may be willing to listen to offers for Jamaal Lascelles, however, while Villa’s Kortney Hause continues to be linked with a move away from the Midlands.
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