Andre Santos is a transfer target for Galatasaray, reveals CEO

Oct 16, 2012 10:50:00 AM

Lutfi Aribogan claims that the Gunners left-back is on the Turkish giants' list of potential recruits but they are yet to make contact with the Brazilian or his club

Galatasaray chief executive Lutfi Aribogan has disclosed an interest in signing Arsenal left-back Andre Santos.

The defender has failed to fully establish himself in the Premier League, and seen his appearances once again limited so far this season by injury and the good early form of Kieran Gibbs.

Santos has also lost his place in the Brazil set-up under Mano Menezes, not featuring since the Copa America in 2011, and could be in search of regular first-team action in anticipation of World Cup 2014, which will be held in his home country.

"Andre Santos is one of the names [we have] on our list," Aribogan told the Turkish sports newspaper Fanatik.

Galatasaray are familiar with Santos from his stint with Super Lig rivals Fenerbahce, where he spent two seasons prior to signing for Arsenal, and it seems that a return to Turkey could perhaps be on the cards for the Brazilian.

However, Aribogan did admit that any possible transfer is, at the moment, a long way off, adding: "We currently have no contact with his club and the player himself."

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German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.

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However, who doesn't feel anything by admiration for Jupp Heynckes? The Bayern coach learned earlier this year that he would be replaced by former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola earlier this summer but did he let it affect him? Not a bit, with Heynckes now on the verge of a historic treble. Worth noting, too, that Heynckes, who led Madrid to the title in 1998 before being replaced by Fabio Capello, has never failed to reach the final of any Champions League in which he has taken part.

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Klopp, of course, is the new darling of the football media. It’s pretty damn impossible not to love a man who speaks so passionately - and amusingly - about the game. This week alone he admitted that so distraught was he by the news of Gotze’s imminent departure for Bayern, whom he views as the villain in a James Bond movie, that he had to cancel plans with his wife to attend a movie premiere because he didn’t want to have to talk to anyone. Seriously, how could any real football fan not be a 'Klopptomist'?!

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We’re still awaiting the confirmed line-ups but if you’re looking for the likely starting 11s, let me point you in the direction of our match preview. Also, if you want an excellent and entertaining analysis of tonight’s fascinating final, well, how does a James Richardson-hosted debate involving Jonathan Wilson and Paulo Sousa tickle your fancy? The prince of puns, a true titan of tactical thinking and a two-time Champions League winner - a veritable dream team, I think you'll agree.

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The injury-enforced absence of Dortmund’s Bayern-bound playmaker, Gotze, is of course the principal talking point in terms of team news. The 20-year-old’s unavailability is clearly a hammer blow for die Schwarzgelben, but, as team-mate Kevin Grosskreutz pointed out this week, Dortmund destroyed Bayern in last year’s DFB Pokal final without Gotze.

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But what do the fans think? Well, yesterday Goal’s roving reporter Kris Voakes went along to the Uefa Champions Festival, which is being staged at the Olympic Park in Stretford, and he spoke with supporters from both sides.

Johannes, Munich, told Goal: "We haven't lost to Dortmund this season, and though we lost two finals [in 2010 and 2012], we are hoping the third time is a charm.

"Last year the English stole our trophy," interrupted his friend Benjamin, "but we are going to take in back to Munich where it belongs."

But Dortmund fan Nicolas says the loss of Mario Gotze to injury is not too much of a concern for Jurgen Klopp's side: “We have Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski, and yes, we will be fine without Gotze. We will win 2-0.”

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