Galatasaray considers Franjo Ivanović, Benfica ready to negotiate under firm conditions
Galatasaray, searching for a new solution at the top of its attack, has included Franjo Ivanović among its candidates, the 22-year-old Croatian international who, after only one season at Benfica, is increasingly close to a possible departure from Lisbon. Portuguese sports daily A BOLA reported on 25 July 2026 that the Istanbul club is studying the conditions under which it could open negotiations with Benfica, while Turkish media mention a loan model with an option to buy later. Such a structure currently does not fully align with the interests of the Portuguese club, which wants to protect its investment of 22.8 million euros and prefers a permanent transfer or a loan with a mandatory purchase. An official offer from Galatasaray has not yet been confirmed, so the entire deal is currently at the assessment and possible initial contact stage. Ivanović is also attracting interest from England and Italy, meaning Benfica can expect his situation to develop further during the remainder of the summer transfer window.
The story of a possible transfer has been accelerated by changes in Benfica's attacking hierarchy. On 20 July, the Portuguese club officially confirmed the arrival of Colombian striker Jhon Durán on loan from Saudi club Al-Nassr until the end of the 2026/27 season, with the total cost of the operation amounting to 6.1 million euros. According to A BOLA's report, Benfica sees Vangelis Pavlidis and Durán as its main options at centre-forward in the new season, while 18-year-old Anísio Cabral is expected to take the role of third choice. In such a projection, Ivanović's room for playing time becomes significantly narrower than during his first year at the Luz stadium. For that reason, a departure is no longer viewed merely as a market opportunity, but as a scenario that suits both the team's sporting plans and the player's need for more minutes.
The difference between Galatasaray's proposal and Benfica's expectations
According to information carried by Portuguese and Turkish media, Galatasaray would prefer to arrange a loan with an option to buy, thereby reducing the initial financial risk and leaving the final decision until the end of the season. Benfica, on the other hand, does not want to lose control over recovering the large amount invested in Ivanović. A BOLA states that the Lisbon club is prepared to discuss a transfer, but prefers a direct sale, while in the case of a loan it would insist on a clause making the purchase mandatory once predefined conditions are fulfilled. That detail could become the central point of any negotiations between the two clubs. Until a formal document or official confirmation appears, it is not possible to speak of an agreed price, the duration of the loan or a percentage of a future sale.
Benfica also has a strong negotiating position because of the length of Ivanović's contract. When he arrived on 31 July 2025, the club announced that the Croatian striker had signed until 2030, meaning the Portuguese side is not under pressure from an imminent contract expiry. At the same time, keeping a player who could receive limited minutes amid competition from Pavlidis, Durán and Cabral would not be ideal from either a competitive or an economic standpoint. A young striker's value is more easily preserved through regular appearances than through long periods on the bench, especially after a season in which he did not fully justify his status as one of Benfica's larger investments. For that reason, a compromise model involving a loan with a firmly defined purchase obligation is emerging as a possible middle ground between the demands of the two sides.
Jhon Durán's arrival further reduced the available space in attack
Durán's arrival represents an important signal regarding the direction in which Benfica is building its attacking line for the 2026/27 season. The Colombian international arrived as a player with experience in the English Premier League and international competitions, while Benfica's official announcement confirms that it is a one-year loan from Al-Nassr. In a pre-season match against Belenenses on 24 July, both Durán and Ivanović were among the scorers in Benfica's 5:1 victory, showing that the Croatian striker is still working with the first team and attempting to impress the new coaching staff. Nevertheless, one goal during pre-season does not change the fact that the competition has become larger and more expensive. Portuguese media therefore assess that a transfer is more realistic than remaining as the fourth-choice option.
According to data published by A BOLA, Ivanović made 42 appearances in all competitions during the 2025/26 season, scoring eight goals and adding two assists. Benfica's official profile for the Portuguese league lists 25 league appearances, six goals and one assist, showing that he produced most of his total output in the domestic championship. The number of appearances may seem high at first glance, but it does not reveal by itself how many times he started or what his average playing time was. For a significant part of the season, Ivanović was behind Pavlidis in the striker hierarchy, and in an interview carried by Portuguese media at the beginning of 2026, he said that then-coach José Mourinho had explained to him that the Greek striker had the advantage. A change of coach did not automatically change his position, while Durán's arrival further intensified competition for one of the team's most demanding positions.
Benfica wants to preserve the value of a major investment
Ivanović arrived in Lisbon after an excellent season with Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise. Benfica did not officially disclose the full financial structure of the transfer, but leading Portuguese sports media reported a fixed fee of 22.8 million euros. Such an amount created major expectations, particularly because the player was 21 at the time of signing and arrived as one of the more promising young strikers on the European market. Benfica tied him to a long-term contract and presented him as a reinforcement capable of immediately helping the first team while also developing in the future. After one season, the club must now decide whether it is more beneficial to continue investing in his development or accept an offer that would reduce the financial risk.
In transfer negotiations, the distinction between accounting and market logic will be important. Benfica will seek to avoid a deal that, after only one year, would clearly show a major loss compared with the original fee, while interested clubs will cite limited playing time and new competition as arguments for a lower price. The long contract allows the Portuguese side to reject unfavourable proposals, but the player's actual market value will depend on the number of serious buyers and their willingness to commit to a permanent transfer. That is why interest from several clubs is particularly important for Benfica. If Galatasaray, Hull City and Como genuinely move from the monitoring stage to formal offers, the Lisbon club could gain room for competition and a more favourable sale structure.
Galatasaray seeks a striker who fits Okan Buruk's plan
Galatasaray's interest is not entirely new. O JOGO and A BOLA reported as early as June that coach Okan Buruk appreciates Ivanović's profile, and the subject reopened at the end of July as the Turkish champions reshape their squad for the new season. Galatasaray's official website confirms that Buruk remains in charge of the first team and that he spoke after the pre-season match against Monza on 25 July. The Istanbul club enters the 2026/27 season as defending Turkish champion and with the ambition of remaining competitive in European competitions. In such an environment, a new striker would not be signed merely as a development project, but as a player capable of meeting the demands of competing for trophies and rotating through a large number of matches.
Ivanović's style may appeal to Galatasaray because of his off-the-ball movement, aggressiveness in pressing and ability to attack the space behind the defence. His best periods at Rijeka and Union showed that he can play as a traditional number nine, but also participate in a more dynamic attacking system in which the striker is expected to constantly open channels for teammates. However, a coach's interest and scouting assessments are not the same as an agreement between clubs. Galatasaray must first decide whether it accepts Benfica's demand for a more secure future payment, and then agree with the player on his sporting role and personal terms. There is currently no official confirmation that these stages have been completed or that Ivanović has selected Istanbul as his preferred destination.
Hull City and Como offer different sporting paths
Alongside Galatasaray, Ivanović's name has been linked with Hull City and Como. A BOLA reported that both clubs are considering the striker, but that no formal offer to Benfica had been confirmed by 25 July. The English interest carries additional weight because Hull secured a return to the Premier League for the 2026/27 season. The Premier League's official website states that the team defeated Middlesbrough 1:0 in the play-off final at Wembley through an Oli McBurnie goal in stoppage time. Because of its return to the top flight, the club is undergoing an intensive squad-building process, and a young striker with experience in Portuguese, Belgian and European football could fit its strategy of expanding the rotation.
Como represents a different possibility. The Italian club, led by Cesc Fàbregas, finished fourth in Serie A and qualified for the Champions League, so it is seeking additional quality for a more demanding season on several fronts. Portuguese media report that Como representatives had previously gathered information about the conditions of a possible deal, but that formal negotiations between the clubs have not been confirmed. For Ivanović, the Italian option would mean working in a technically demanding system and joining a club competing in Europe's strongest competition. On the other hand, competition and expectations at Como would also be high, so the decision would need to include a clear assessment of the anticipated playing time, not only the attractiveness of the league and the international schedule.
From Rijeka and the Belgian title to a demanding year in Lisbon
Ivanović's rise towards Benfica was rapid. After developing in Austria and Augsburg's academy, he moved to Rijeka in the summer of 2023, where he began playing senior football regularly. When he left, the Croatian club announced that he had scored 16 goals in 51 matches, while Union Saint-Gilloise signed him as a long-term investment in August 2024. He made his greatest breakthrough in Belgium: according to Union's official data, he scored 21 goals and registered seven assists in 47 appearances. He was an important part of the team that won the Belgian title and also delivered notable performances in the Europa League, including matches in which he scored twice against Nice and Braga.
That season explained why Benfica was prepared to pay more than 20 million euros. At the time, Ivanović combined youth, physical potential, European experience and proven goal production for a club competing for the title. His first year in Portugal, however, brought a different context: greater competition, less continuity and pressure associated with the high transfer fee. Eight goals in 42 appearances is not a worthless return, but it is below the standard he set in Belgium and the expectations created by the size of the transfer. That is precisely why his next choice of club could prove crucial for the continuation of his development.
Playing time is also important for his international status
Ivanović made his debut for Croatia's senior national team against France on 20 March 2025, according to Benfica's official profile, after representing Croatia at youth levels. For a young striker, the fight for a stable international status is closely connected to the rhythm of his club appearances. Occasional appearances from the bench at a major club can provide experience, but strikers are most often assessed through continuity, the number of chances and efficiency over an extended period. Therefore, a convincing sporting plan, rather than only the financial terms of the transfer, will play an important role in choosing a new environment.
Galatasaray could offer him the environment of a major club, intense pressure for results and the opportunity to compete for domestic trophies. Hull would represent entry into the Premier League, but also a potentially difficult season for a team whose primary goal would be to consolidate its status among the English elite. Como offers the Champions League and a project that has progressed rapidly in recent seasons, although he would also need to fight for a place in an ambitiously assembled squad there. Benfica, for its part, will make its decision based on the quality of the offer and the protection of the capital invested. The shared interest of the club and the player could be to find an environment in which Ivanović would again receive enough playing time to restore the attacking output he achieved during his period in Belgium.
Negotiations have not yet been formalised
Despite the growing number of media reports, the most important fact remains that an official transfer process has not been publicly confirmed. Galatasaray has not announced an offer, Benfica has not stated that it has accepted negotiations with a particular club, and there is no confirmation that Ivanović has agreed personal terms with a potential new employer. Reports from Portugal and Turkey currently coincide on one point: the Istanbul club is monitoring the situation, while Benfica is open to a solution involving a secure financial return. The difference lies in the structure of the deal, because an option to buy leaves the risk with the Portuguese side, while a mandatory purchase shifts it to the club taking the player. In negotiations of this kind, the final outcome often depends on the conditions for activating the clause, bonuses, the payment schedule and a possible percentage of a future transfer.
As of 26 July 2026, Ivanović remains a Benfica player and a participant in the club's pre-season preparations. His goal against Belenenses served as a reminder that he can still be useful in Lisbon, but the broader squad picture and Durán's arrival indicate that the club is seriously considering an exit solution. Galatasaray has emerged as the latest and most prominent candidate in the media, while Hull City and Como maintain market competition. The next step should reveal whether the interest will develop into an official offer and whether a model can be found that satisfies Benfica's financial calculations and Ivanović's need for regular football.
Sources:
- A BOLA – report on Galatasaray's interest, the possible loan model, Benfica's conditions, season statistics and interest from Hull and Como (link)
- SL Benfica – official confirmation of Jhon Durán's arrival on loan from Al-Nassr and the financial framework of the operation (link)
- SL Benfica – official confirmation of Ivanović's transfer from Union Saint-Gilloise and his contract until 2030 (link)
- SL Benfica – official player profile with information about his career, international debut and league statistics for the 2025/26 season (link)
- Royale Union Saint-Gilloise – official data on 21 goals and seven assists in 47 appearances before his transfer to Benfica (link)
- HNK Rijeka – official data on Ivanović's record in 51 matches before his departure for Belgium (link)
- Premier League – official confirmation of Hull City's promotion to the Premier League for the 2026/27 season (link)
- Galatasaray – official publication with statements from coach Okan Buruk following the pre-season match on 25 July 2026 (link)
- O JOGO – information on Como's interest, its fourth-place finish in Serie A and the Italian club's qualification for the Champions League (link)
- Galatasaray – official confirmation of winning the 26th Turkish championship title in May 2026 (link)