The key facts
- Galatasaray are interested in CSKA midfielder Matvey Kislyak, with a possible transfer in January 2027 (Yeni Şafak).
- No official offer has been made to CSKA; the player's value is estimated at around €25 million.
- Aleksey Batrakov, Kislyak's friend who moved to Istanbul from Lokomotiv in the summer, could play a role in the transfer.
Galatasaray's interest in Kislyak
Turkish Galatasaray intend to strengthen their squad with another Russian footballer and have become interested in 21-year-old CSKA midfielder Matvey Kislyak, the Turkish outlet Yeni Şafak reports. The club is considering the possibility of signing the player as early as January 2027. According to journalists, representatives of the Istanbul club have for some time been maintaining contact with Kislyak's agent and gathering information about a possible transfer. No official offer has yet been made to CSKA. The Turkish press estimates the midfielder's market value at around €25 million.
Batrakov's role and the player's position
Aleksey Batrakov, who moved to Istanbul from Moscow's Lokomotiv last summer, could play an important role in a possible transfer. According to Yeni Şafak, the two footballers are friends and shared a room during national team training camps; Kislyak was among the first to congratulate his friend on the move to Turkey and follows his performances. Kislyak himself previously admitted that he had asked Batrakov about life at Galatasaray and adapting to the new team, but stressed that he does not intend to leave Russia at any cost and is happy with his situation at the Moscow club.
Context: midfield and past interest
The interest in the Russian is linked to possible changes in the Istanbul side's midfield: as the outlet Yeni Mesaj previously reported, in winter Galatasaray may part with Lesley Ugochukwu, on loan from English Burnley, and in that case Kislyak would become one of the candidates for the vacated spot. Kislyak's contract with CSKA runs until the summer of 2029. According to the Turkish press, in the summer Besiktas also pursued him, but the Moscow club refused to let their academy product go.
Batrakov in the Champions League
Life.ru previously reported that Batrakov scored his first goal for Galatasaray in a Champions League match against Barcelona, striking in the 28th minute of the game and opening the scoring. For him, that goal was his first since his summer move to the Turkish club.
