Monday, 19th August, 2013
Galatasaray president Unal Aysal has laughed off an offer from Italian Serie A side Lazio for striker Burak Yilmaz, sending out a message to the 28-year-old's suitors that the very highest price tag is placed on the player's shoulders.
Lazio had wanted to take Yilmaz on loan for the season, for a fee of €3m, and then consider buying him for a further €9m.
Arsenal, who have also been linked with making a bid for the prolific goalscorer, are thought to be weighing up an offer of €25m, an amount which may not cause Aysal to laugh, as he has done at Lazio.
"Burak is one of the most valuable players Galatasaray have", the president told Hurriyet.
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"We need him.
"I thank Lazio for this funny kind of offer, but I am not seriously considering it."
Yilmaz has been prolific in Turkish football, finding the back of the net a combined 76 times in the last three Super Lig seasons.
The striker's contract at the Turk Telekom Arena runs for another three years, placing Galatasaray in a strong position to either resist his departure or demand top dollar for a sale.
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