Mario Lemina rejects Fatih Terim’s Al Shabab after Galatasaray steps in

Galatasaray is in the final stages of bringing back Mario Lemina.

The club has already agreed on personal terms with the Gabonese midfielder and is now negotiating with Wolverhampton Wanderers to secure the transfer.

Galatasaray negotiates Mario Lemina transfer, expects fee reduction

Galatasaray has been working to strengthen its squad during the transfer window. After signing Ahmet Kutucu from Eyup Spor and Alvaro Morata from Milan, the club is now focused on reinforcing its midfield.

Reports indicate that Galatasaray and Lemina have agreed on a $2.5 million annual salary. The club is negotiating with Wolves, which is expected to lower its asking price from €3 million.

Okan Buruk has been pushing hard to complete this signing.

• Lemina played for Galatasaray in the 2019-2020 season, making 28 appearances and scoring one goal
• This season, he has played 19 matches for Wolves, recording one goal and three assists

Mario Lemina turns down Fatih Terim’s Al Shabab, prefers to return to Galatasaray

Lemina was initially in discussions with Al Shabab, managed by former Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim.

However, after learning about Galatasaray’s offer, he rejected Al Shabab and prioritized a return to the Turkish club. Galatasaray swiftly responded by opening negotiations with Wolves to finalize the deal.

Wolves, under coach Vitor Pereira, is open to Lemina’s departure as part of their squad adjustments. Although Lemina’s market value is estimated at $9-10 million, Galatasaray is working to complete the transfer for a lower fee.

Besiktas rejects reports claiming interest in Mario Lemina

Reports suggested that Besiktas was also pursuing Lemina, but the club denied the claims. Besiktas released a statement calling the reports “completely false” and emphasized that there was no attempt to sign the midfielder.

This statement came after speculation that Besiktas was searching for a replacement in midfield after Al Musrati’s transfer to Monaco. Instead, the club has focused on other targets, including Sparta Prague’s Veljko Birmancevic and Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth.

Galatasaray accelerates negotiations to finalize Mario Lemina signing

Since Galatasaray and Lemina have agreed on personal terms, the final step is securing an agreement with Wolverhampton.

If Wolves agrees to a lower transfer fee, Lemina is expected to officially rejoin Galatasaray in the coming days. If negotiations face obstacles, Galatasaray is prepared to target Nice’s Youssouf Ndayishimiye as an alternative.

Galatasaray is determined to complete the transfer before the window closes, as Okan Buruk aims to strengthen the squad for the remainder of the season.