Galatasaray are moving closer to signing Burnley midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, with talks between both clubs now at an advanced stage, Footynaija reports.
The Turkish champions have already reached an agreement with the player’s representatives and are now working to finalise the deal with Burnley, according to transfer market insider Fabrizio Romano.
The 22-year-old is also attracting attention from Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle because he is eligible to play for Nigeria through his family. However, Ugochukwu, who was born in Rennes, has represented France at youth level and is believed to favour continuing his international career with the French senior team.
Galatasaray want to bring the midfielder to Istanbul on an initial loan, but Burnley are insisting that the agreement should include a compulsory transfer if certain conditions are met. The permanent move would become automatic once Ugochukwu reaches an agreed number of appearances during the loan spell.
Ugochukwu is valued for his flexibility in midfield. Although he mainly plays as a defensive midfielder, he can also feature in central or attacking midfield. His strength, height and ability to win aerial battles have made him an important player.
The former Chelsea player joined Burnley last summer and featured 38 times in all competitions during his first season with the Premier League club, which ended in relegation. He remains under contract with Burnley until June 2030, giving the English side a strong position in negotiations as Galatasaray continue their push to complete the signing.
