Galatasaray's transfer policy at huge risk

Having sent out Lukas Podolski and Bruma, Galatasaray are seeking to strengthen their squad for the next season in the transfer window. Younes Belhanda and Bafetimbi Gomis, one attacking winger and one striker, were signed as replacements for 9 million euros and 3.5 million euros respectively, but for even more money in the long run. Added to that, the team also signed a five-year contract with Sao Paulo defender Maicon, with an 8 million euros transfer fee. A special report on Galatasaray's transfer policy by Taner Karaman from Sabah revealed that the team's spending on these three players amount to 51 million euros, a number that doubles what Galatasaray made by selling Bruma and Podolski, 24.6 million euros.

Now, the question is, as most Galatasaray fans worry about, how can Galatasaray turn this huge long term debt into profit and success? Now, a basic calculation tells us that if Galatasaray can become champions in Turkish Super League this season, they will earn approximately 35 million euros in both championship and Champions League prize money. Furthermore, if the team can qualify for the second round of the Champions League, they will earn 5.5 million euros more, and 1.5 million euros per win in the group stage and half a million for every draw. Thus, it is obvious that with a strong performance in both the Super League and the Champions League next season, Galatasaray may turn their spending into a profit. Nevertheless, for a team that has struggled financially over the last three years and has bombed domestically and in continental competition, the scenario above is a truly tough one.

Of course, you could say that the team does not have to replace the money they spent on these players in just one year given the debt is long term. But for those who know how Turkish teams find money to make sensational transfers, immediate success is a must for Galatasaray. Amid their financial and administrative crisis, the Galatasaray board would only pony up the cash if they believed the payoff would be immediate. On the other hand, neither of the new transfers are young, Maicon and Belhanda are 28, while Gomis is already 32, meaning they have few more effective years left.

So, I would like to ask every Galatasaray executive on what basis they trusted their team's potential for immediate success? We are talking about a team that has signed four coaches in just two years, giving approximately six months to a year to them to achieve success. There were even rumors about sacking the current coach, Igor Tudor, before the season has even begun, and has only worked with the team for four months. Therefore, there is no financial, administrative or performance-related basis for us to expect immediate success from Galatasaray next season, while everyone in this business are doing so.