8 Midfield Profiles That Could Suit Galatasaray
Data-led player profiles and tactical fit analysis.
- Data cut-off: 11 Nov 2026
- Profiles: 8
- Role: Ball-playing 6/8
- Age filter: Aged 21–29 on 11 Nov 2026
Galatasaray top the Süper Lig and are halfway through the Champions League league phase, and their midfield runs on two players. Lucas Torreira collects from the centre-backs and sets the tempo; Gabriel Sara creates in the final third. Behind them the cupboard is thinner than it looks. Torreira is 30, Lemina 33 and Gündoğan 36, while the younger options, Ugochukwu and Nhaga, have managed 133 league minutes between them this season. Okan Buruk calls midfield the most crowded part of his squad, but crowded is not the same as deep.
This piece defines, with data, the deep-lying playmaker or passing No. 6/8 Galatasaray could look at in January 2027 and beyond, and profiles eight players who fit. The pool is deliberately realistic: mid-table sides in the big five leagues, plus the Netherlands, Portugal and Belgium, ages 21 to 29, with players out of contract in June 2027 flagged as a bonus. The numbers come from FotMob's Opta-based 2025/26 league tables and 2026/27 player pages. FBref was unavailable, so there are no progressive passing or carrying metrics, and the method note says so.
Every name comes with a trade-off. One is elite over distance but loses duels, another wins the ball but creates little, a third has fitness or minutes questions. The GegenSports editorial fit score rolls those trade-offs into a single number; it does not imply club interest or talks. And with Galatasaray's foreign-player quota at its limit, any of these arrivals would most likely depend on a foreign player leaving.
Galatasaray: game model, squad and needs
Galatasaray, in the Champions League as Turkish champions (UEFA), lead the Süper Lig after 11 rounds with 28 points from nine wins, a draw and a defeat (27 scored, 15 conceded, per Wikipedia on 8 November), and have two wins and two defeats from four Champions League league-phase games. Their line-ups point to a 4-2-3-1: a back four, a double pivot of Torreira with Lemina or Sara, Batrakov at No. 10, Sané, Leão, Yunus Akgün and Barış Alper on the flanks and Osimhen up top (Nefes on the 4 September Başakşehir game; Aspor on the 7 November Amedspor game). That shape is inferred from team sheets, not announced by the club. FotMob's data shows a clear division of labour: Torreira collects from the centre-backs and sets the tempo (49.2 accurate passes per 90 at 89.0%), while Sara is the final-third creator (4.43 chances created per 90, five assists). No verified pressing metric such as PPDA was used in this study.
The midfield's centre of gravity is in its thirties: Torreira is 30, Lemina 33 and Gündoğan 36. The younger options, Ugochukwu (22) and Nhaga (19), have 133 league minutes between them this season, so nobody is genuinely sharing Torreira's workload at the base. Sara's creativity lives in the final third rather than in long-range distribution (1.52 accurate long balls per 90). That points to a No. 6/8 who can build from deep, play forward and through lines, and still help win the ball back. There are four Champions League league-phase games still to play on top of league and cup fixtures, and with Osimhen and Leão both listed as injured on FotMob, a midfielder who can find runners from deep becomes more valuable (an indirect inference). Ball-carrying needs could not be measured in this study.
Current options
| Player | Age | Position | Foot | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Torreira | 30 | Defansif orta saha (6) | Right | Orta sahanın düzenleyicisi. 2026/27 Süper Lig: 10 maçta 787 dk, 90 dakikada 49,2 isabetli pas (%89,0), 3,32 isabetli uzun top, 1,94 top kapma, 1,14 araya girme; 3 asist (FotMob). Sözleşme 2028 (FotMob). |
| Gabriel Sara | 27 | Merkez/ofansif orta saha (8) | Left | Takımın fırsat yaratıcısı: 2026/27 Süper Lig'de 711 dk, 4,43 yaratılan fırsat/90 ve 0,40 xA/90 (FotMob lig yüzdeliği 100), 5 asist. Uzun pası 1,52/90. Mayıs 2026'da ayrılık ihtimali yazılmıştı (Aspor); kadroda kaldı. Sözleşme 2029 (FotMob). |
| Mario Lemina | 33 | Defansif orta saha / stoper | Right | Fiziksel denge unsuru: 2026/27 Süper Lig'de 513 dk, %89,6 pas isabeti, 1,58 araya girme/90. Sözleşme bitişi kaynaklarda çelişkili (FotMob 2028; Wikipedia sezon sayfası 2027). |
| İlkay Gündoğan | 36 | Merkez orta saha | Right | 2026/27 Süper Lig'de 64 dk, ilk 11 yok (FotMob). Sözleşme Haziran 2027. Yeni Asır (12 Eki 2026) Ocak'ta ayrılacağını iddia etti; resmi değil. |
| Lesley Ugochukwu | 22 | Merkez orta saha | Right | Burnley'den kiralık (satın alma opsiyonlu, Wikipedia). 2026/27 Süper Lig'de 86 dk. U23 yabancı slotunda. |
| Renato Nhaga | 19 | Defansif orta saha | Right | 2026/27 Süper Lig'de 47 dk. U23 yabancı slotunda. Okan Buruk 25 Eylül'de Nhaga, Ugochukwu ve Gündoğan'a süre vermek istediğini ama orta sahanın kadronun en kalabalık bölgesi olduğunu söyledi (Evrensel). |
| Aleksey Batrakov | 21 | Ofansif orta saha (10) | – | Ağustos 2026'da Lokomotiv Moskova'dan geldi (Wikipedia). 4-2-3-1'in 10 numarası; U23 yabancı slotunda. |
| Kaan Ayhan | 32 | Stoper / defansif orta saha | – | Yerli; gerektiğinde 6 numarada kullanılabilen stoper (FotMob mevki etiketi). |
Constraints and unknowns
Foreign-player rule: the TFF kept its 10+4 system for 2026/27, so clubs can register up to 14 foreign players, at least four of whom must be born on or after 1 January 2003 (Medyascope, 21 May 2026; Yeni Asır, 1 July 2026). FotMob's squad page shows 15 foreign nationals; the under-23 bracket (Bitshiabu, Ugochukwu, Nhaga, Batrakov) looks full and the over-23 count is at the limit. A January foreign midfield signing would therefore very likely require a foreign departure, though the exact registration list should be confirmed with the club or TFF. Finances: Leão (€38m plus add-ons) and Batrakov (€25m plus add-ons) arrived in the summer (Wikipedia); there is no verified January budget figure. Window: January 2027. Players whose contracts expire in June 2027 can sign pre-contracts with other clubs from 1 January under FIFA rules.
Gallery: 8 profiles at a glance
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01JHJordan HolsgroveEstoril Praia · Liga Portugal (Portekiz)
- Accurate passes /90 (25/26)64.0 (85.4%)
- Accurate long balls /90 (25/26)4.2
- League assists (25/26)7
- Chances created /90 (25/26)1.68
Editorial fit score83/100Holsgrove is the left-footed No. 8 who runs Estoril's build-up from deep. FotMob's 2025/26 Liga Portugal tables have him completing 64 passes per 90…
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02
Ramiz ZerroukiFC Twente · Eredivisie (Hollanda)- Accurate long balls /90 (26/27)5.15 (64.2%)
- Line-breaking passes /90 (26/27)14.9
- Accurate passes /90 (26/27)62.4 (87.7%)
- League minutes (25/26)2,667
Editorial fit score82/100Zerrouki is the most consistent deep distributor on this list. On loan at Twente from Feyenoord in 2025/26, he logged 2,667 league minutes and ranked…
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03
Maxime LopezParis FC · Ligue 1 (Fransa)- Accurate passes /90 (26/27)83.4 (92.8%)
- Touches /90 (26/27)100.5
- Accurate passes /90 (25/26)70.0 (89.3%)
- Chances created (25/26)43
Editorial fit score77/100The list's pure metronome. FotMob has him completing 70 passes per 90 at 89.3% in Ligue 1 last season, tenth in the division, and 43 chances created…
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04MDMathias DelorgeKAA Gent · Belçika Pro Lig
- Accurate long balls /90 (26/27)6.87 (81.8%)
- Accurate long balls /90 (25/26)5.3 (71.7%)
- Pass accuracy (26/27)90.6%
- Tackles /90 (26/27)3.31
Editorial fit score76/100The youngest name here and the most accurate long passer. In 2025/26 he ranked fourth in the Belgian top flight for accurate long balls per 90 (5.3…
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05ABAntonio BlancoDeportivo Alavés · LaLiga (İspanya)
- League minutes (25/26)3,116
- Interceptions /90 (25/26)1.6 (4th in LaLiga)
- Tackles /90 (25/26)2.7
- Accurate long balls /90 (26/27)3.42 (69.6%)
Editorial fit score73/100Blanco is the balancing option: less a volume passer than a No. 6 who wins it and moves it forward cleanly. FotMob's 2025/26 LaLiga tables put him…
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06DNDarko NejašmićNEC Nijmegen · Eredivisie (Hollanda)
- Line-breaking passes /90 (26/27)12.4
- Defensive actions /90 (26/27)7.37
- Tackles /90 (25/26)2.5
- European games (26/27)8
Editorial fit score72/100Nejašmić is a two-way No. 6: he plays forward and he does a heavy defensive shift. FotMob had him 22nd in the 2025/26 Eredivisie for accurate long…
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07
Nikola MoroBologna · Serie A (İtalya)- Accurate long balls /90 (25/26)7.5, 1st in Serie A
- Accurate passes /90 (25/26)56.9 (85.0%)
- Europa League games (25/26)11
- League minutes (26/27)106
Editorial fit score71/100On long-range distribution alone, the most extreme profile here. FotMob's 2025/26 Serie A table has him top of the league for accurate long balls per…
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08
Adrián BernabéParma · Serie A (İtalya)- Chances created (25/26)55, 12th in Serie A
- Long-ball accuracy (25/26)63.6%
- Line-breaking passes /90 (26/27)15.3
- xA /90 (26/27)0.22
Editorial fit score67/100Bernabé is the most creative passer on the list: less a deep No. 6 than a left-footed No. 8 who builds from the second line. FotMob has him 12th in…
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All profilesComparison
- Jordan Holsgrove83/100
- Ramiz Zerrouki82/100
- Maxime Lopez77/100
- Mathias Delorge76/100
- Antonio Blanco73/100
- Darko Nejašmić72/100
- Nikola Moro71/100
- Adrián Bernabé67/100
The GegenSports assessment model
- Forward / vertical passing25%
- Passing volume and security15%
- Chance creation15%
- Ball-winning15%
- Availability and minutes15%
- Age, league level and deal realism15%
FBref could not be accessed for this study (HTTP 403), so progressive passes, passes into the final third, passing under pressure and progressive carries are NOT in the model. FotMob's Opta-based accurate long balls, line-breaking passes, chances created and xA were used instead. FotMob's 2025/26 line-breaking pass table looked incomplete across clubs and was not used for that season. The score is GegenSports' editorial fit rating; it is not a sign of club interest, transfer talks or a professional scouting report. Weights are set for this role; scores are an editorial model, not evidence of club interest or a professional scouting report.
Player profiles
1. Jordan HolsgroveEstoril Praia · Liga Portugal (Portekiz) · Merkez orta saha (8)
- Born
- 10 Sep 1999
- Age
- 27
- Nation
- İskoçya
- Position
- Merkez orta saha (8)
- Foot
- Left
- Height
- 180 cm
- Contract
- 2028-06
- Market value
- €3.8m (2026-11-11)
| Season | Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Liga Portugal | 33 | 2.834 | 1 | 7 |
| 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) | Liga Portugal | 7 | 493 | 0 | 1 |
- Accurate passes /90 (25/26)64.0 (85.4%)
- Accurate long balls /90 (25/26)4.2
- League assists (25/26)7
- Chances created /90 (25/26)1.68
- ContractJune 2028
Why he makes the list
Holsgrove is the left-footed No. 8 who runs Estoril's build-up from deep. FotMob's 2025/26 Liga Portugal tables have him completing 64 passes per 90, 12th in the league, with 4.2 accurate long balls per 90 and 53 chances created on the way to seven league assists. The first 493 minutes of 2026/27 point the same way, only louder: 6.39 accurate long balls and 16.6 line-breaking passes per 90, both at the very top of FotMob's league percentiles.
Strengths
- Volume: 64 accurate passes per 90 in 2025/26 at 85.4%, 12th among Liga Portugal midfielders on FotMob.
- Verticality: 4.2 accurate long balls per 90 last season; 6.39 per 90 plus 16.6 line-breaking passes per 90 so far in 2026/27 (small sample).
- End product from deep: 53 chances created (1.68 per 90) and seven assists in 2025/26, 0.17 xA per 90.
- Reads danger too: 2.19 interceptions per 90 in 2026/27, 96th percentile on FotMob.
Limitations
- League level: Estoril sit in Portugal's lower-mid table, and there is no under-pressure passing data to show how he copes at Champions League tempo.
- Tackling output (1.9 per 90 in 2025/26) is middling, so whether he can hold a single-pivot role on his own is an open question.
- A 53.3% long-ball success rate last season: plenty of ambition, plenty of turnovers.
- Offers little as a dribbler (0.18 successful take-ons per 90 this season); progressive-carry data was not available for this study.
Tactical fit
He makes sense as a second organiser next to Sara. Sara is Galatasaray's chance-maker this season (4.43 chances per 90 in the league) but plays few long passes (1.52 per 90); Holsgrove is the type who collects from the centre-backs and switches play into the left half-space or out to the flanks. Paired with Torreira, the split would be Torreira hunting the ball and Holsgrove dictating. As a lone pivot, the defensive side of his game is the worry.
Unknowns
Estoril's asking price and any release clause are not public, nor are his wage expectations. He has no senior Scotland caps, so how his passing holds up under big-match pressure needs separate video work.
Data reliability:medium A full 2025/26 season (2,834 minutes) of FotMob/Opta data; only 493 minutes so far in 2026/27. Allow for the difference in tempo and quality between Liga Portugal and the Süper Lig.
Sources and data period: 2025/26, 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) — fotmob.com · en.wikipedia.org · fotmob.com · fotmob.com
2. Ramiz ZerroukiFC Twente · Eredivisie (Hollanda) · Defansif orta saha (6)
- Born
- 26 May 1998
- Age
- 28
- Nation
- Cezayir
- Position
- Defansif orta saha (6)
- Foot
- Right
- Height
- 183 cm
- Contract
- 2030-06
- Market value
- €6.1m (2026-11-11)
| Season | Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Eredivisie (Feyenoord'dan kiralık) | 32 | 2.667 | 3 | 1 |
| 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) | Eredivisie | 12 | 1.067 | 1 | 1 |
- Accurate long balls /90 (26/27)5.15 (64.2%)
- Line-breaking passes /90 (26/27)14.9
- Accurate passes /90 (26/27)62.4 (87.7%)
- League minutes (25/26)2,667
- Algeria caps56
Why he makes the list
Zerrouki is the most consistent deep distributor on this list. On loan at Twente from Feyenoord in 2025/26, he logged 2,667 league minutes and ranked fourth in the Eredivisie for accurate long balls per 90 (4.7, FotMob). Twente made the move permanent in July 2026 on a four-year deal, and his numbers have climbed again: 12 starts from 12, 62.4 accurate passes, 5.15 accurate long balls and 14.9 line-breaking passes per 90. He also brings 56 Algeria caps and a 2026 World Cup squad place.
Strengths
- Long distribution: 5.15 accurate long balls per 90 this season (100th percentile on FotMob) at 64.2%.
- Breaks lines: 14.9 line-breaking passes per 90 (96th percentile).
- Durability: 2,667 league minutes last season, 1,067 already this term, plus regular European football.
- Pedigree: 56 Algeria caps, AFCON squads and the 2026 World Cup (Wikipedia).
Limitations
- Loses a lot of duels: 45.8% won this season (30th percentile).
- Modest ball-winning numbers (1.69 tackles and 1.01 interceptions per 90): not a Lemina-style physical screen.
- Contracted to 2030 and only just bought by Twente, so any January deal is uncertain in both availability and price.
- Rarely beats a man on the dribble (0.17 per 90).
Tactical fit
In Galatasaray's 4-2-3-1 he is one of the cleanest statistical matches for a deep-lying organiser next to Torreira. Torreira's game is short passing and winning the ball back; Zerrouki is the one who bypasses lines with a single pass and switches play, which in turn suits runners like Osimhen and Leão. His duel numbers mean he needs a scrapper alongside him, Torreira or Lemina. He would also take one of the over-23 foreign registration slots.
Unknowns
Unknown whether Twente would sell in January, whether there is a release clause, or what he earns. Wikipedia reports the permanent fee as just over €2m; that should be checked against a club statement.
Data reliability:high A broad two-season sample (2,667 + 1,067 league minutes). Bear in mind Eredivisie tempo and Twente's possession-heavy role for him.
Sources and data period: 2025/26, 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) — fotmob.com · en.wikipedia.org · fotmob.com · Photo: Hans Reefman, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
3. Maxime LopezParis FC · Ligue 1 (Fransa) · Defansif orta saha (6)
- Born
- 4 Dec 1997
- Age
- 28
- Nation
- Fransa
- Position
- Defansif orta saha (6)
- Foot
- Right
- Height
- 167 cm
- Contract
- 2027-06
- Market value
- €2.2m (2026-11-11)
| Season | Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Ligue 1 | 26 | 1.960 | 0 | 3 |
| 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) | Ligue 1 | 10 | 832 | 2 | 2 |
- Accurate passes /90 (26/27)83.4 (92.8%)
- Touches /90 (26/27)100.5
- Accurate passes /90 (25/26)70.0 (89.3%)
- Chances created (25/26)43
- ContractJune 2027
Why he makes the list
The list's pure metronome. FotMob has him completing 70 passes per 90 at 89.3% in Ligue 1 last season, tenth in the division, and 43 chances created with 0.21 xA per 90 show the volume was not sterile. This season Paris FC run everything through him: more than 100 touches, 83.4 accurate passes (92.8%) and 13.5 line-breaking passes per 90. His deal expires in June 2027 (FotMob, consistent with the three-year contract Wikipedia dates to August 2024).
Strengths
- Volume and security: 83.4 accurate passes per 90 at 92.8% this season (97th and 96th percentile).
- The hub: 100.5 touches per 90 (95th percentile).
- Line-breaking passes: 13.5 per 90 (89th percentile).
- Creativity: 43 chances created and 0.21 xA per 90 in 2025/26, 25th in Ligue 1 for xA per 90.
Limitations
- Physically slight at 167cm: just 2.6 duels won per 90 this season (9th percentile).
- Long passing is not his game this term: 1.41 per 90 at 38.2%. He builds through short and medium passes.
- Low defensive output in 2025/26: 0.5 interceptions and 1.1 tackles per 90.
- Similar size and role to Torreira, so pairing the two would leave the double pivot light.
Tactical fit
Lopez is a like-for-like option for Torreira's job, the man who demands the ball and sets the tempo with short passes, and a plausible long-term successor to the 30-year-old. Galatasaray have the ball in most Süper Lig games, which is where a high-volume passer earns his keep. What he cannot do is Lemina's shielding work, so he needs Lemina, Ugochukwu or a more athletic No. 8 beside him. Being in the last year of his deal opens the door to a cut-price January fee or a pre-contract from 1 January.
Unknowns
Paris FC's stance on a January sale or renewal, and his wage demands, are unknown. How much of the volume is a product of Paris FC's model, and how he passes under pressure (not measured here), needs video work.
Data reliability:high 1,960 league minutes (26 games) in 2025/26 and 832 this season, in a big-five league. Paris FC's possession share was not measured here.
Sources and data period: 2025/26, 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) — fotmob.com · en.wikipedia.org · fotmob.com · Photo: Werner100359, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
4. Mathias DelorgeKAA Gent · Belçika Pro Lig · Defansif orta saha (6)
- Born
- 31 Jul 2004
- Age
- 22
- Nation
- Belçika
- Position
- Defansif orta saha (6)
- Foot
- Left
- Height
- 189 cm
- Contract
- 2028-06
- Market value
- €9m (2026-11-11)
| Season | Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Belçika Pro Lig | 20 | 1.383 | 0 | 3 |
| 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) | Belçika Pro Lig | 11 | 707 | 0 | 0 |
- Accurate long balls /90 (26/27)6.87 (81.8%)
- Accurate long balls /90 (25/26)5.3 (71.7%)
- Pass accuracy (26/27)90.6%
- Tackles /90 (26/27)3.31
- Height189cm
Why he makes the list
The youngest name here and the most accurate long passer. In 2025/26 he ranked fourth in the Belgian top flight for accurate long balls per 90 (5.3, at 71.7%) according to FotMob. This season it is 6.87 per 90 at 81.8%, top of the league's percentiles. Add 3.31 tackles per 90 from a 189cm left-footer and this is more than a passer.
Strengths
- Long-range quality: 6.87 accurate long balls per 90 at 81.8% this season (100th percentile on both).
- Secure in possession: 90.6% pass completion (94th percentile).
- Defends as well: 3.31 tackles and 1.78 interceptions per 90, 60.8% of duels won.
- Age profile: 22, contracted to 2028, and would bring down the average age of Galatasaray's midfield.
Limitations
- Only 1,383 league minutes (20 games) in 2025/26; regular starts are recent.
- The 2026/27 sample is 707 minutes, and he has not been tested at a big club or in the Champions League.
- No senior international experience (Belgium U21).
- Would need an under-23 foreign slot (born 2003 or later), and Galatasaray's appear to be full.
Tactical fit
Delorge is the closest fit for combining Lemina's physical presence with Torreira's distribution, and as a left-footer he would open play from the left half-space next to the right-footed Torreira. The catch is registration: Galatasaray's under-23 foreign slots are taken by Bitshiabu, Ugochukwu, Nhaga and Batrakov, so without a departure he looks hard to register. More of a summer project than a January one.
Unknowns
Gent's valuation and any release clause are unknown. Whether that long-pass accuracy holds over a bigger sample, and how quickly he decides under pressure, are questions for video analysis.
Data reliability:medium Roughly 2,100 league minutes across two seasons; allow for the level gap between Belgium and the Süper Lig. Wikipedia lists 18 league games for 2025/26, FotMob 20 (play-off games may be counted differently).
Sources and data period: 2025/26, 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) — fotmob.com · en.wikipedia.org · fotmob.com
5. Antonio BlancoDeportivo Alavés · LaLiga (İspanya) · Defansif orta saha (6)
- Born
- 23 Jul 2000
- Age
- 26
- Nation
- İspanya
- Position
- Defansif orta saha (6)
- Foot
- Right
- Height
- 176 cm
- Contract
- 2027-06
- Market value
- €7.5m (2026-11-11)
| Season | Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | LaLiga | 36 | 3.116 | 2 | 3 |
| 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) | LaLiga | 11 | 843 | 0 | 0 |
- League minutes (25/26)3,116
- Interceptions /90 (25/26)1.6 (4th in LaLiga)
- Tackles /90 (25/26)2.7
- Accurate long balls /90 (26/27)3.42 (69.6%)
- ContractJune 2027
Why he makes the list
Blanco is the balancing option: less a volume passer than a No. 6 who wins it and moves it forward cleanly. FotMob's 2025/26 LaLiga tables put him fourth for interceptions per 90 (1.6) and 23rd for tackles (2.7), and his 3,116 minutes were among the most in the division. His long-pass accuracy has jumped this season to 3.42 accurate long balls per 90 at 69.6%. A Real Madrid academy product with one Spain cap from 2021, he is out of contract in June 2027 (Wikipedia, FotMob).
Strengths
- Ball-winning: 1.6 interceptions per 90 in 2025/26 (4th in LaLiga) and 2.7 tackles.
- Availability: 3,116 league minutes last season (36 games), 10 starts from 11 this term.
- Long passing: 3.42 accurate long balls per 90 at 69.6% in 2026/27 (87th and 77th percentile).
- A regular holding midfielder in a top-five league.
Limitations
- Little creative output: 22 chances created in 2025/26 (0.64 per 90) and 0.06 xA per 90.
- Moderate passing volume: 45.3 accurate passes per 90 last season. No metronome.
- Won only 47.4% of duels this season (39th percentile).
- At 176cm he offers no real edge in the air.
Tactical fit
He could carry on Lemina's defensive job with younger legs while chipping in as a second passer. Behind creators like Sara and Batrakov he offers security plus forward passing, and he could rotate with Torreira to share the Champions League load. His final-third output is thin, so think of him as a No. 6, not a No. 8. A contract in its final year gives the buyer leverage in January.
Unknowns
Spanish media (Fichajes, 14 September 2026) reported that he has not renewed with Alavés and can negotiate freely from January; claims about Real Madrid retaining economic rights and the size of his release clause could not be verified officially. Wage expectations are unknown.
Data reliability:high A broad two-season LaLiga sample (3,116 + 843 minutes). FotMob's 2025/26 line-breaking pass data looked incomplete across clubs, so it was not used for that season.
Sources and data period: 2025/26, 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) — fotmob.com · en.wikipedia.org · fotmob.com · fichajes.net
6. Darko NejašmićNEC Nijmegen · Eredivisie (Hollanda) · Defansif orta saha (6)
- Born
- 25 Jan 1999
- Age
- 27
- Nation
- Hırvatistan
- Position
- Defansif orta saha (6)
- Height
- 183 cm
- Contract
- 2027-06
- Market value
- €2m (2026-11-11)
| Season | Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Eredivisie | 29 | 2.311 | 4 | 1 |
| 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) | Eredivisie | 10 | 830 | 1 | 1 |
- Line-breaking passes /90 (26/27)12.4
- Defensive actions /90 (26/27)7.37
- Tackles /90 (25/26)2.5
- European games (26/27)8
- ContractJune 2027
Why he makes the list
Nejašmić is a two-way No. 6: he plays forward and he does a heavy defensive shift. FotMob had him 22nd in the 2025/26 Eredivisie for accurate long balls per 90 (3.3) and 34th for tackles (2.5). This season he sits in the top 10% of the league for both line-breaking passes (12.4 per 90) and defensive actions (7.37 per 90), and he has played in all eight of NEC's Champions League and Europa League games. Contract up in 2027, FotMob valuation €2m.
Strengths
- Breaks lines: 12.4 line-breaking passes per 90 this season (90th percentile).
- Defensive workload: 7.37 defensive actions per 90 (90th percentile), 2.39 tackles and 1.63 interceptions.
- Aerial presence: 2.39 aerials won per 90 (90th percentile).
- European football this season: four Champions League and four Europa League appearances.
Limitations
- Passing accuracy is low: 80.7% this season (26th percentile), 82.8% last.
- Long-ball success of 47.2% this term: ambitious, error-prone distribution.
- Gets dribbled past a lot: 1.63 times per 90 (10th percentile).
- No senior caps (Croatia U21), and FotMob does not list his preferred foot.
Tactical fit
A low-cost, two-way rotation No. 6: he can do Lemina's defensive work and plays more vertically than Torreira. His passing security, though, sits well below the 89% that Torreira and Lemina complete at, and in a side that has most of the ball those turnovers would matter. Champions League minutes and a 2027 expiry make him a sensible, affordable depth option for January.
Unknowns
NEC's willingness to sell in January, his wages and his preferred foot (not listed on FotMob) all need checking. Wikipedia gives his height as 185cm, FotMob as 183cm.
Data reliability:medium 2,311 league minutes in 2025/26 and 830 so far. Adjust for the Eredivisie's tempo relative to the Süper Lig.
Sources and data period: 2025/26, 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) — fotmob.com · en.wikipedia.org · fotmob.com
7. Nikola MoroBologna · Serie A (İtalya) · Defansif orta saha (6)
- Born
- 12 Mar 1998
- Age
- 28
- Nation
- Hırvatistan
- Position
- Defansif orta saha (6)
- Foot
- Right
- Height
- 183 cm
- Contract
- 2027-06
- Market value
- €3.6m (2026-11-11)
| Season | Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Serie A | 30 | 1.797 | 2 | 0 |
| 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) | Serie A | 5 | 106 | 0 | 0 |
- Accurate long balls /90 (25/26)7.5, 1st in Serie A
- Accurate passes /90 (25/26)56.9 (85.0%)
- Europa League games (25/26)11
- League minutes (26/27)106
- ContractJune 2027
Why he makes the list
On long-range distribution alone, the most extreme profile here. FotMob's 2025/26 Serie A table has him top of the league for accurate long balls per 90 (7.5 at 64.1%), ahead of Modrić, Locatelli and Çalhanoğlu, and 24th for accurate passes per 90 (56.9). He played 11 Europa League games for Bologna and went to the 2026 World Cup with Croatia (Wikipedia). This season, though, his role has shrunk to 106 league minutes over five substitute appearances. With a 2027 expiry and a €3.6m FotMob valuation, he is a cheap passer in need of minutes.
Strengths
- Long distribution: 7.5 accurate long balls per 90 in 2025/26, first in Serie A (FotMob).
- Volume: 56.9 accurate passes per 90 (24th in Serie A).
- Experience: Serie A, the Europa League and Croatia (10 caps, 2026 World Cup squad).
- Cost: out of contract in 2027, valued at €3.6m by FotMob.
Limitations
- Barely playing in 2026/27 (106 minutes), so match sharpness is a real question.
- Low defensive output: 0.9 interceptions and 1.6 tackles per 90 in 2025/26.
- Moderate creation: 1.30 chances per 90 and no league assists last season.
- 1,797 minutes in 2025/26 is little more than half a season; he was already a rotation player.
Tactical fit
Moro fits the scenario in which Galatasaray want a deep passer who switches play and hits the space behind, adding a long-range layer to Torreira's short game. He cannot do the defensive work alone, so he would need Lemina or Torreira alongside. As a player short of minutes he could be a realistic January target, but his recent inactivity means his fitness and rhythm need checking.
Unknowns
The sources do not say whether his lack of minutes is a coaching choice or a fitness issue. Bologna's openness to a January sale or loan, and his wages, are unknown.
Data reliability:medium The score rests on 2025/26 Serie A data (1,797 minutes); the 106 minutes of 2026/27 were not used. FotMob's 2025/26 line-breaking pass data looked incomplete and was left out.
Sources and data period: 2025/26, 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) — fotmob.com · en.wikipedia.org · fotmob.com · Photo: Bryan Berlin (Berlination), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
8. Adrián BernabéParma · Serie A (İtalya) · Merkez orta saha (8)
- Born
- 26 May 2001
- Age
- 25
- Nation
- İspanya
- Position
- Merkez orta saha (8)
- Foot
- Left
- Height
- 170 cm
- Contract
- 2027-06
- Market value
- €13.5m (2026-11-11)
| Season | Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Serie A | 32 | 2.493 | 3 | 1 |
| 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) | Serie A | 7 | 399 | 0 | 0 |
- Chances created (25/26)55, 12th in Serie A
- Long-ball accuracy (25/26)63.6%
- Line-breaking passes /90 (26/27)15.3
- xA /90 (26/27)0.22
- ContractJune 2027
Why he makes the list
Bernabé is the most creative passer on the list: less a deep No. 6 than a left-footed No. 8 who builds from the second line. FotMob has him 12th in Serie A for chances created in 2025/26 (55, or 1.99 per 90), with 63.6% of his long balls finding a teammate. In limited minutes this season he is in the league's top 10% for line-breaking passes (15.3 per 90) and xA (0.22 per 90). A product of the Barcelona and Manchester City academies, he won Olympic gold with Spain in 2024 (Wikipedia). His contract runs out in 2027, and TuttoMercatoWeb reported in October 2026 that renewal talks had stalled.
Strengths
- Chance creation: 55 chances in 2025/26 (12th in Serie A), 1.99 per 90.
- Line-breaking passes and xA: 15.3 and 0.22 per 90 this season (96th and 94th percentile, small sample).
- Accurate long passing: 63.6% last season, 73.9% this.
- Delivery: 1.58 accurate crosses per 90 in 2026/27 (90th percentile).
Limitations
- Fitness: FotMob lists a muscle injury as of 1 November 2026, and he has only 399 minutes this season.
- Low defensive output: 0.6 interceptions and 1.4 tackles per 90 in 2025/26.
- At 170cm he offers no Lemina-style physical cover.
- Moderate passing volume last season (38.8 accurate passes per 90).
Tactical fit
At Galatasaray he overlaps more with Sara's role than with a No. 6: a left-footed No. 8 who receives between the lines, and passes into the final third. A double pivot of him and Torreira would be light defensively, so he makes most sense if Sara leaves or as Champions League rotation. His contract situation gives a buyer leverage in January, although FotMob's €13.5m valuation is the highest on this list.
Unknowns
How serious the muscle injury is, his recurring injury history, Parma's stance on a January sale and his wages are all unknown. Wikipedia lists 25 league games for 2025/26 and FotMob 32; the discrepancy needs checking.
Data reliability:medium 2,493 league minutes in 2025/26 is a solid base; the 399 minutes of this season are indicative only. His No. 8/10 role makes like-for-like comparison with the holding players harder.
Sources and data period: 2025/26, 2026/27 (11 Kas 2026'ya kadar) — fotmob.com · en.wikipedia.org · fotmob.com · tuttomercatoweb.com · Photo: Like tears in rain, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Comparison table
| Player | Age | Club | League minutes (25/26) | Accurate long balls/90 (25/26) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Holsgrove | 27 | Estoril Praia | 2834 | 4.2 | 83 |
| Ramiz Zerrouki | 28 | FC Twente | 2667 | 4.7 | 82 |
| Maxime Lopez | 28 | Paris FC | 1960 | 3.3 | 77 |
| Mathias Delorge | 22 | KAA Gent | 1383 | 5.3 | 76 |
| Antonio Blanco | 26 | Deportivo Alavés | 3116 | 3.1 | 73 |
| Darko Nejašmić | 27 | NEC Nijmegen | 2311 | 3.3 | 72 |
| Nikola Moro | 28 | Bologna | 1797 | 7.5 | 71 |
| Adrián Bernabé | 25 | Parma | 2493 | 2.7 | 67 |
FAQ
What kind of midfielder are Galatasaray missing?
FotMob's 2026/27 data shows Torreira as the organiser and Sara as the final-third creator. What is missing is a No. 6/8 who can share Torreira's load, passing forward and long from deep while helping to win the ball back. The younger options, Ugochukwu and Nhaga, have 133 league minutes between them this season, Torreira is 30 and Lemina 33.
What is the difference between a deep-lying playmaker and a No. 10?
A deep-lying playmaker usually receives in front of the centre-backs and moves the ball up the pitch with forward, line-breaking or long passes, so the useful measures are accurate long balls, line-breaking passes and passing volume. A No. 10 receives between the lines in the final third and creates chances. At Galatasaray, Batrakov is the No. 10 and Sara sits between the two as a chance-creating No. 8.
When can a club agree terms with a player whose contract ends in 2027?
Under FIFA rules, a player in the last six months of his contract can sign a pre-contract with another club from 1 January and move on a free in the summer. On this list Antonio Blanco, Maxime Lopez, Adrián Bernabé, Nikola Moro and Darko Nejašmić are all out of contract in June 2027 (FotMob).
How does the foreign-player rule shape Galatasaray's options?
The TFF kept its 10+4 system for 2026/27: up to 14 foreign players, at least four of them born in 2003 or later. FotMob's squad page suggests Galatasaray are at the limit, with the under-23 slots full, so a foreign midfield signing in January would most likely require a foreign player to leave. The exact registration list should be confirmed with the club or TFF.
Further reading
Methodology
Sources: FotMob player pages (2026/27 league stats, contract expiry, FotMob's estimated transfer value, height, foot, injury status) and FotMob's 2025/26 league leaderboards (Opta data: accurate passes, accurate long balls, xA per 90, chances created, interceptions, tackles, minutes played); Wikipedia for dates of birth, career history and international caps; for the Galatasaray context, Wikipedia's 2026–27 season page, FotMob's squad page and Turkish media (Aspor, Nefes, Evrensel, Yeni Asır); Medyascope and Yeni Asır for the foreign-player rule. All accessed on 11 November 2026. Data period: the full 2025/26 league season and 2026/27 up to 11 November; samples under 900 minutes are flagged on each player card. FBref was unavailable (HTTP 403), so progressive passes and carries, passes into the final third and passing under pressure could not be used. FotMob's 2025/26 line-breaking pass data looked incomplete across clubs, so it was only used for 2026/27. Differences in league strength (Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands versus the Süper Lig and the big five) and in team roles are discussed in the text. Model: six criteria totalling 100 (vertical passing 25, passing volume 15, chance creation 15, ball-winning 15, availability 15, age/league/realism 15). FM26/fminside was not used. This is editorial analysis: there is no claim that Galatasaray have spoken to or are interested in any of these players. No matches were watched; assessments rest on available statistics and should be checked with video. The web-search quota ran out during this study, so the current status of some candidates (see exclusions) could not be verified.
This piece is built on publicly available player statistics, official records and GegenSports’ role-based comparison method. It makes no claim about any club’s transfer talks; “target” describes profile fit only.
