Roman Bürki’s proposed move to Galatasaray reportedly falls through
Despite confirmation from Galatasaray president Burak Elmas that a deal was near completion, it appears that Roman Bürki will not be joining Galatasaray.
In what seems to be yet another twist for Borussia Dortmund’s potential transfer window plans, Swiss shot stopper Roman Bürki will not be joining Galatasaray as originally reported. The deal for Bürki has reportedly fallen through, according to both Blick and Sport1. The reported reason for this is because Galatasaray’s Fernado Muslera’s return to action has been projected to be closer than initially expected.
On Bürki’s end, the move allegedly did not make much sense long-term, which led to him refusing the offer. The current state of affairs should come as a disappointment for both Bürki as well as Borussia Dortmund themselves.
Bürki hasn’t featured for the club all season long since falling behind both Marwin Hitz and Gregor Kobel in the pecking order, but also remains on high wages which is financially draining for the club to support. While perhaps a long-term move to Galatasaray wouldn’t necessarily be Bürki’s first choice, it was an opportunity to play some football, albeit briefly, and spark interest from other clubs around Europe.
A potential move for Bürki now seems unlikely as the winter transfer window edges closer to its conclusion, and finding a potential suitor will only grow more difficult for the club and the player. The longer he remains out of action, the more of a risky transfer he becomes for any club moving forward. The wages and the player demands will continue to be a stumbling block in any negotiations that may take place as well.
It is unfortunate for Bürki in particular because while he may no longer be the player Borussia Dortmund need between the sticks, he was a loyal servant for the club during his time in black and yellow and still has the quality to ply his trade either in the Bundesliga or elsewhere in Europe.
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One can only assume what goes on behind closed doors between the club, the player and his agent. But the aim should certainly be for all parties to work towards finding a solution where Bürki can find a new club soon. It is in the best interest of all parties involved to do so, particularly if the sporting aspect of Bürki’s career is more important to him than any pending financial benefit that may come from running his contract down at Dortmund (which expires in June 2023). By then, it may be too late for Bürki to have any sensible chance of reviving his career at a top level club.