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.