Sunderland boosted as Galatasaray open door to Gabriel Sara sale

Sunderland have been handed fresh encouragement in their pursuit of Gabriel Sara, with reports in Turkey suggesting a January exit from Galatasaray is now a realistic possibility.

According to Turkish outlet Fotospor, Sara’s future at Galatasaray is no longer secure despite the club sitting top of the Süper Lig. The 26-year-old midfielder is attracting strong Premier League interest, and Sunderland remain firmly in the picture as the winter window develops.

Sara joined Galatasaray from Norwich City in the summer of 2024 for around €18m after two productive seasons in English football. Since then, his form has continued to draw attention from clubs across England.

Sunderland were previously reported to be “seriously interested” in bringing Sara to the Stadium of Light, though they face competition from Fulham. Fotospor now add that Leeds United are also monitoring the situation closely.

Galatasaray are understood to be open to selling the midfielder if their valuation is met. The Turkish champions would consider offers in excess of €20m, reflecting both Sara’s importance to the squad and his growing appeal in the Premier League market.

Crucially, any deal hinges on Galatasaray securing a replacement before allowing Sara to depart. The Istanbul club have explored several options in recent weeks as part of their contingency planning.

One name discussed was Manuel Ugarte of Manchester United, but that route now appears unlikely following managerial changes at Old Trafford.

Instead, Galatasaray have shifted focus to Kevin Danois of Auxerre. The 21-year-old has been tracked for some time and is viewed as a long-term option in central midfield. Should Sara’s valuation be met, Galatasaray are expected to accelerate talks with the Ligue 1 side.

Sara has featured 26 times for Galatasaray this season, scoring twice. He began last weekend’s Super Cup final defeat to Fenerbahçe on the bench, only entering the match at half-time — a decision that has further fuelled speculation around his role.

Although under contract until June 2029, there is growing belief within Turkish media that Sara will not see out that deal, particularly if Premier League clubs formalise their interest.

If Sunderland decide to push forward with a formal bid, the next step will be Galatasaray’s move for a replacement. Until that happens, Sara’s future remains delicately balanced — but momentum is clearly building towards a potential January transfer.

Should Sunderland make a decisive move for Gabriel Sara — or wait as Premier League competition intensifies?