Defending champion Galatasaray in opening test against Ankaragücü

ANKARA

The Turkish Super League will resume on Aug. 10 when defending champion Galatasaray visits Ankaragücü, a returnee to the top tier.

The Lions have managed to secure most of its triumphant cadre during a relatively slow Turkish summer transfer window, which is still open to last minute signings.

The club added forward Muğdat Çelik on board, whose contract with Super League side Akhisar expired in July.

It also loaned Everton’s Nigerian winger Henry Onyekuru and signed with Yuto Nagatomo, Inter’s Japanese player who had already been playing on loan for the Istanbul side.

On the departure list were midfielder Yasin Öztekin, center back Koray Günter, veteran midfielder Hakan Balta, French goalkeeper Cedric Carrosso, Romanian defender Iasmin Latovlevici, his Turkish counterpart Eray İşcan and Belgian-born Turkish midfielder Umut Gündoğan, who did not have many chances last season.

Belgian defender Jason Denayer on loan returned to his team Manchester City following a brilliant World Cup performance.

Experienced coach Terim invited many young players during summer training, including goalkeeper İsmail Çipe.

The Istanbul side opened the season with a Super Cup loss to Akhisar, last season’s Turkey Cup winner.

Data by Transfermarkt, an internet portal that puts price tags on players, puts Galatasaray on top of the Super League in terms of player value.

The data shows that Galatasaray players’ current value stands at 84.5 million euros in a league of 598 million euros.

Last year’s runner-up Fenerbahçe follows with 79 million euros. Galatasaray’s archrival holds Andre Ayew, the most expensive player in the Turkish league with a 15 million euro tag, according to Transfermarkt.

The value of players at Beşiktaş, which has parted ways with key members, stands at a little higher than 70 million euros.

Galatasaray’s opening game rival Ankaragücü’s player value is the lowest with 10.68 million euros.

After the relegation of Gençlerbirliği and Osmanlıspor last season, Ankaragücü made it to the top tier, becoming the sole team from the Turkish capital in the league.

Ankaragücü, a former Super League regular with a history that exceeds a century, was relegated following a 5-0 home defeat to Kayserispor on April 7, 2012.

Former Fenerbahçe player İsmail Kartal has coached the team since 2017.