Gala is well aware of this and, according to Habertürk, has identified Antonio Rüdiger as a potential alternative to Virgil van Dijk. The German centre-back's contract at Real Madrid expires at the end of the season, making him a realistic target for the Lions.
At the end of March, Spanish outlets reported he would need to accept a steep pay cut to remain at the Bernabéu, with his current €14m gross annual salary potentially halved, as happened to Luka Modric in his final season with Los Blancos.
Rumours suggest his agents are also sounding out the Saudi market, though security concerns in the region make that move unlikely. Juventus Turin are monitoring the 33-year-old's situation as another option.
Istanbul clubs have long attracted seasoned stars: last summer, Galatasaray signed Leroy Sané on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, while rivals Cimbom paid €75 million for Victor Osimhen.