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According to a report by TeamTalk on Wednesday November 4, 2026, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly sent representatives to Istanbul on Tuesday to monitor Galatasaray midfielder Aleksey Batrakov, as interest in the highly-rated youngster continues growing across Europe.
TEAMtalk understands that scouts from all three Premier League clubs attended Galatasaray’s latest fixture to assess the Russian international, who is quickly establishing himself as one of European football’s most exciting emerging talents.
United and Chelsea have previously monitored the 21-year-old, but Arsenal have now intensified their interest. The increasing competition suggests Batrakov could attract significant attention during the coming transfer windows.
Batrakov joined Galatasaray from Lokomotiv Moscow during the summer and has made an impressive impression since arriving in Turkey. His performances have quickly established him among the standout attacking midfielders in the Super Lig.
The Russian has already contributed five goals and three assists across nine starts, demonstrating the attacking qualities that have attracted several major European clubs to his situation.
Primarily an attacking midfielder, Batrakov prefers operating behind the striker as a number ten but can also occupy wider attacking positions. His versatility and creativity make him an attractive potential addition for interested clubs.
A senior Premier League recruitment figure reportedly described him as a special talent. Batrakov strengthened that reputation on Tuesday, delivering an outstanding performance against Stuttgart in Galatasaray’s 2-0 victory.
The youngster scored both goals, providing another reminder of his quality and explaining why several leading clubs are closely following his development.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are not alone in the race. Liverpool have also been linked, while Manchester City and Tottenham are monitoring his progress.
Across Europe, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs reportedly keeping track of the situation.
Previously, British clubs faced difficulties pursuing Batrakov because restrictions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prevented direct transfers from Russian teams. His move to Galatasaray has now removed that obstacle.
However, a January departure appears unlikely. Batrakov reportedly negotiated a release clause worth approximately £50million when joining the Turkish champions, potentially opening the door to a transfer in 2027.
Galatasaray are considering offering him improved financial terms and removing the clause to protect their investment and strengthen their negotiating position.