Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra is close to completing his exit from the Santiago Bernebeu after reports emerged recently that he has agreed personal terms with Turkish club Galatasaray for transferring the summer transfer window.

Lassana Diarra has been on the fringes of the first team for quite a while now, which seems to have affected the morale of the former Portsmouth midfielder.

Hence, he is looking for a move to a club where he can play regularly. Turkish club Galatasaray have emerged as the front-runners for his signature after it was reported by the Spanish daily AS that they have agreed personal terms with the midfielder.

It is thought that Lassana Diarra will now earn around € 5.7 million compared to the € 4 million he currently earns, while he is also set to be one of the regular first-team players for the club.

It is also thought that Galatasaray will be willing to pay up to € 8 million to Real Madrid for the transfer of the player in the summer. It will be interesting to see if Real Madrid will be willing to accept this proposal given that they paid around € 25 million for the midfielder back in 2009. So far, the midfielder has made 25 appearances for Real Madrid this season.

Diarra has played for a number of big clubs already. He has represented the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, and Real Madrid, while he also had a stint with Portsmouth.

The 27-year-old is thought to have met with agents from Galatasaray along with his brother in order to strike out a deal, which would see him move to Turkey in the summer. José Mourinho was the manager of Diarra when the player was at Chelsea. He was eventually sold to Arsenal after failing to get regular football.

Turkish giants Galatasaray have expressed the fear that they will not be able to play in the Champions League next season due to the problems between UEFA and their national leaders.

Galatasaray director Sedat Dogan has said that he fears that the club could lose up to $50 million in revenue alone from the Champions League if they failed to make it into the group stages for next season.

The league leaders of the Turkish football league are expected to make a big impact on the Champions League next season, but according to the current situation, there is a real danger that they will not be present at the next year's competition.

Due to the various match fixing scandals that have taken place in the Turkish football over the last few seasons, UEFA are determined to stamp out the problems in Turkey. However, the national leaders are not that concerned over this problem, which has led to a dispute between them and UEFA.

Galatasaray, meanwhile, feel that the stand-off between the two parties will start their chances of being in the Champions League next season. The Champions League revenue has been a major contributor to the dominance of the top clubs across the world and Galatasaray are no different, even if they didn't quite live up to their Top Betfair Euro Tips status this time around.

"We must not be held responsible for an omission or neglect of the Turkish Football Federation body. The end of May to decide is too late. There must be some decision. We must have enough time to protect ourselves. They have all kinds of evidence, they have all the authority, they have to decide. Maybe we have to cancel our expensive contracts with some players. It's too much for the Turkish league," Galatasaray director Sedat Dogan said recently in an interview given to the Press Association.

Goodness knows how this latest twist will affect next season's Champions league betting, though you would imagine that Barcelona dna Real Madrid will be favourites.

Turkish club Galatasaray are one of the clubs interested in signing Bafana Bafana star May Mahlangu.

Clubs like Feyenoord, Ajax, and Villarreal have all shown interest in the South African star, who is expected to be the next big thing in football.

He is currently playing for Swedish club Helsingborg, but has admitted that he will be looking for a move to a bigger club in the summer. As a result, the club have confirmed that May Mahlangu will be with them until July 1, and after that the destination of the South African is unknown. However, he can be sure that there is definitely no shortage of takers for his skills.

Dutch clubs Ajax and Feyenoord will be a great opportunity for the May Mahlangu to establish himself in the favourite league for many of the English and Spanish clubs. However, there is also an opportunity for May Mahlangu to become one of the established stars at a major club – Galatasaray. Galatasaray are club who regularly challenge for the Turkish league, while also represent in Turkey in the Champions League. Hence, apart from providing May Mahlangu with a direct opportunity to play in the European elite competition, it would also provide him with the opportunity to win titles.

The team are currently top of the Turkish league and they appear no closer to losing their lead at the top of the table. This is because they have a massive nine-point advantage over second placed Fenerbahçe.

The club recently won their match against Sivasspor 4-0 in order to once again stress their advantage in the Turkish league. May Mahlangu will certainly be extremely delighted at the prospect of being able to join the Turkish champions. Official talks over a potential transfer is yet to begin, but will be conducted shortly.

Turkish club Galatasaray are reportedly interested in signing Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt either in the January transfer window or in the summer.

Dirk Kuyt has been at Liverpool since 2006 and has been one of the integral parts of the squad. He was a regular under previous managers Rafael Benitez and Roy Hodgson.

Even though he has been a regular under Kenny Dalglish as well, it is thought that Liverpool would be interested in listening for offers for the 31-year-old. Dirk Kuyt has only 18 months left on his current contract after which he will be eligible to leave on a Bosman transfer.

Liverpool do not want to push him to such a situation and are willing to accept around £ 5 million for the striker. Dirk Kuyt came into the reputation of scoring a number of goals in Dutch football, but he has been largely used as the right winger by manager Rafael Benitez and Roy Hodgson.

Kenny Dalglish has not preferred to change this position under his regime as well, as Dirk Kuyt continues to function as the right winger for Liverpool. So far, Dirk Kuyt has made 21 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, but is seeking pastures new.

Dirk Kuyt began his career with Utrecht before moving to Feyenoord in Dutch football. It was during this will that he was recognised internationally and a number of clubs showed interest in him. However, it was Rafa Benitez who managed to snap up the player from Dutch football as part of the plan to increase the chances for Liverpool to win the Premier League.

Dirk Kuyt has had a very successful career at Liverpool, even though he does not have any trophies to show for. He has played in the Champions League final of 2007 against AC Milan.

Turkish club Galatasaray are considering a move for Benfica striker Javier Saviola according to new reports in Turkey.

Javier Saviola joined Benfica from Barcelona in 2009, but has been disappointing of late. He has so far scored only 36 goals in 104 appearances for Benfica, and it seems that the Portuguese club are now prepared to cash in on the striker. The 29-year-old will command a lesser transfer fee, but it would help them take a free up the wage bill.

Further, his contract with Benfica will run out at the end of this season. Even though he is free to sign up a contract agreement with any club in January, it seems that Benfica will be willing to sell them for a nominal transfer fee rather than lose him for nothing in the summer.

Benfica can also exercise their option of extending his contract by one year, but it is highly unlikely to happen given the poor performances he has put in this season. He was already in the eyes of Galatasaray in the summer transfer window, but there was a lack of a concrete talks between the two clubs. Hence, the move failed to materialise in the summer. It seems that Galatasaray are extremely close to getting their man, while also they will have to pay a lot less they would have had to do in the summer.

Jorge Jesus praised Javier Saviola recently in an interview. "He is a very important player in the team's attacking plays. He is still motivated and passionate and has the same quality. We count on him for the future,” he was quoted as saying. Aside from Benfica, Javier Saviola has also played for the likes of Monaco and Barcelona, although he failed to break into the Barcelona first team.

Liverpool Football Club are reknowned around the world for the quality of their play, whilst they also had one of their most memorable nights in their history in Instanbul, so it's no wonder the Turkish Tourist Board are keen to link-up with the football giants.

The deal is similar to Qatar's sponsorship of Barcelona, with the country hoping that Liverpool fans around the globe will start to realise the immense potential and beauty of Turkey's coastline, and come and visit!

Liverpool have been struggling to match their fierce rivals Manchester United for commercial deals, but this just shows how much nearer they are getting. The multi-million pound a year deal will help finance more key players for the Kop fans to serenade, and hopefully grow the club's fanbase in Turkey too.

Ian Ayre, Liverpool's CEO, is impressed by Turkey. “Turkey is a great country and we all have fantastic memories of our European Cup win in Istanbul in 2005.

“Through this partnership hopefully Liverpool can provide the Turkish Tourism board with some significant brand visibility, and connect with out supporters to help raise awareness of their tourism opportunities.”

Chelsea are increasing their efforts in order to get current Turkey manager Guus Hiddink. Hiddink, 64, is currently preparing for Turkey's Euro 2012 qualifier against Belgium at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Friday week. As build-up to the game, he will lead the Turkish squad to a training camp in Tegelen, the Netherlands, on Thursday for a week of preparation.

Chelsea are nonetheless confident that Hiddink will leave his job as manager of Turkey after that game, making him free for a second stint in charge at Stamford Bridge following the ruthless sacking of Carlo Ancelotti on Sunday afternoon.

Hiddink is contracted to the Turkish national side until the final of the European Championship next summer, but it is understood Chelsea believe a deal can be struck that would see the veteran Dutch manager released from his contract by mutual consent.

Turkish side Konyaspor have made a £3 million bid to sign Blackburn Rovers striker El Hadji Diouf.

Diouf has been told he can leave Ewood Park by new manager Steve Kean and the Senegal international was linked with a move to Premier League strugglers West Ham United earlier in the transfer window.

That deal never materialised but Kayserispor are willing to stump up the asking price and have offered the former Liverpool forward an escape route.

"Konyaspor have made a bid to Blackburn for El Hadji," Diouf's representative Willie McKay told the Daily Mail. "There has been a lot of interest in El Hadji in England and across Europe as Blackburn have indicated they would be willing to let him move on for a minimal fee.

"El Hadji's first preference would be to stay in England, but he is seriously considering the offer from Konyaspor.

"El Hadji would be a top signing for someone in this transfer window as he has played at the highest level for club and country and he is player who not only scores goals, but creates a lot of goals as well."

A superior display and a two-goal victory over Trabzonspor gives Fenerbahçe a lifeline as the Spor Toto Super League title race seems wide open again. The Yellow Canaries defeat the league leader to end its 14-game unbeaten streak and come one step closer to the top of the league. Trabzonspor, Bursaspor and Fenerbahçe rank within a four-point distance, while a beaten Beşiktaş misses out on the chance to climb higher.

Fenerbahçe ended Trabzonspor’s unbeaten streak and came one step closer to the top of the Spor Toto Super League with a huge victory on Sunday.

The Yellow Canaries beat Trabzonspor 2-0 in the weekend’s big game, ending the league leader’s 14-game unbeaten streak.

Galatasaray teammates Lucas Neill and Harry Kewell both feel that Australian football is in a good position despite the weekend’s heartbreaking Asian Cup final loss to Japan.

32-year old skipper Neill says he will continue playing for the national team as long as his body allows him and feels the devastating manner of the loss will urge the players involved to come back with a steely resolve.

"My future is simple - if my body keeps feeling the way it does I keep playing until someone doesn't pick me in the squad," Neill said.

"As long the young guys take the hurt from this day and turn it into a positive, I'm sure the future's bright."

And Kewell, also 32, who returned to his best during the tournament, says that the squad were looking to move on with positivity from the defeat.

"Everyone is keen to keep playing," he said.