Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk has publicly confirmed his club’s pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt attacking midfielder Can Uzun, though a significant valuation gap threatens to block the Turkish champions from securing their target. The Istanbul club are prepared to offer up to €40 million for the 20-year-old, while Frankfurt are demanding at least €60 million for the Turkey international.
Speaking to Sky Germany, Buruk left little doubt about his admiration for the player, who recently competed at the World Cup. “I think it’s obvious that he’s a very interesting player – also because he’s a Turkish player,” he said. “Should the conditions arise for all parties to come together, then we can very well imagine that happening. But of course, it has to make sense and happen with mutual respect.”
Financial hurdle
The €20 million difference between the clubs represents a substantial obstacle. Uzun is contracted to the Bundesliga side until 2029, strengthening Frankfurt’s negotiating position and removing any urgency to accept a reduced fee. The German club signed the attacking midfielder from Nürnberg on a long-term deal, meaning they face no financial pressure to sell their asset below market value. Despite reports that the player is open to joining Galatasaray, Frankfurt can afford to hold firm on their valuation.
Italian competition
Galatasaray are not alone in their admiration for the former Nürnberg prospect. Serie A trio Roma, Napoli and AC Milan have all registered interest in securing Uzun’s services this summer. This multi-club attention could spark a bidding contest, potentially driving the price beyond what the Turkish side are currently willing to pay.
Player background
Uzun has developed into one of the Bundesliga’s emerging attacking talents since moving to Frankfurt alongside defender Nathaniel Brown, who completed his transfer to Bayern Munich last month. The Regensburg-born midfielder has scored 12 goals in the German top flight and holds eight caps for Turkey. While Galatasaray hope their shared heritage and Buruk’s public praise will appeal to the player personally, convincing Frankfurt to lower their demands remains the immediate challenge. With time running down in the transfer window, the Turkish club must decide whether to increase their bid or risk losing Uzun to one of their Italian rivals.