Osimhen, Lukaku, Vlahovic or Salah: Ranking the 4 stars chasing the 2026-27 Turkish title

The 2026-27 Turkish Super Lig will begin with four clubs carrying serious attacking expectations, Afrik-Foot reports.

Galatasaray enter as champions after finishing the 2025-26 season with 77 points, seven ahead of Fenerbahce. Trabzonspor finished third on 69 points, while Besiktas took fourth with 60.

Their leading attacking names could hardly be more different. Victor Osimhen is the established goal machine at Galatasaray. Romelu Lukaku has arrived at Fenerbahce after helping Napoli win the 2024-25 Serie A title. Dusan Vlahovic is set to lead Besiktas after reaching an agreement with the Istanbul club. Mohamed Salah, meanwhile, has joined Trabzonspor after nine years at Liverpool.

The question is not who has scored the most goals in the past. It is which forward is best equipped to turn individual quality into a Super Lig title.

Osimhen: the proven Turkish league force

Victor Osimhen starts the season with the strongest recent record in Turkey.

The Nigerian scored 15 goals in 22 Super Lig appearances in 2025-26, adding eight assists according to season statistics. His overall campaign was even more impressive because he scored seven times in 10 Champions League appearances, including a hat-trick against Ajax in November. UEFA also recorded him among the competition’s leading players for shots on target.

His importance to Galatasaray was clear when the title was secured. Against Antalyaspor on 9 May, he scored twice in a 4-2 comeback victory, including a penalty he had won himself. That result helped Galatasaray seal another championship.

Osimhen offers more than finishing. His runs behind defenders stretch teams, his strength allows him to compete with centre-backs and his willingness to press gives Galatasaray a first defender from the front.

That combination makes Osimhen particularly dangerous across a 38-match title race. He already understands the league, knows the demands of Galatasaray’s supporters and has shown that he can decide important matches.

Lukaku: Fenerbahce’s power option

Fenerbahce have responded to finishing second by bringing in Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian’s transfer from Napoli was confirmed on Wednesday. The 33-year-old arrives with a proven record of producing goals and assists in Serie A, although his most recent season was badly affected by injuries. He made only seven appearances in all competitions during 2025-26.

The season before that gives a clearer picture of what Fenerbahce are buying. Lukaku scored 14 Serie A goals and supplied 10 assists as Napoli won the Scudetto. The former Chelsea and Manchester United man was the only player in the division to reach double figures for both goals and assists that season.

That is important because Lukaku does not need to score every Fenerbahce goal to influence the title race. He can receive the ball with his back to goal, hold off defenders and bring midfield runners into attacks. His passing can also turn a long ball into an attacking move rather than simply a clearance.

There is one major question, though, and that’s his fitness. A striker who missed most of 2025-26 cannot be judged only by his best Napoli season. Fenerbahce finished several points behind Galatasaray last term, so Lukaku’s availability could become almost as important as his finishing.

Vlahovic: Besiktas are betting on a fresh start

Dusan Vlahovic arrives at Besiktas with something to prove. The Serbian striker has agreed a three-year deal with Besiktas, the club has confirmed, after his Juventus contract expired. The move gives him a chance to restart his career as the clear number nine in Vincenzo Italiano’s attack.

His final Juventus season was uneven. He scored 10 goals and provided two assists in 23 appearances. Juventus’ own records show that he also scored twice against Torino on the final day of the Serie A season, putting Juventus 2-0 ahead before the match finished 2-2.

Earlier in the campaign, injury interrupted his rhythm. Juventus confirmed in April that he suffered a low-grade soleus muscle injury, while another injury had already kept him out after November.

Vlahovic’s qualities fit what Besiktas need. He is a natural penalty-box striker, strong in the air and capable of finishing with either foot. He can also threaten from free-kicks.

The challenge is consistency. Besiktas scored 59 league goals last season, 18 fewer than Fenerbahce and Galatasaray. Vlahovic therefore has to do more than replace a departing striker. He has to raise the attacking level of the entire side.

Salah: the wildcard from Trabzon

Mohamed Salah is the most difficult player in this comparison because he is not a traditional centre-forward.

The Egyptian normally operates from the right side, but Trabzonspor have signed him to become the main attacking figure in a team that finished third last season. Salah signed a two-year contract on 6 August and will earn €17m per season, with additional commercial and performance benefits. Trabzonspor also qualified for the Europa League play-off round.

His final Liverpool season was below his extraordinary previous standards, but he still finished the campaign with 12 goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances in all competitions.

That creative side could be crucial in Turkey. Salah does not need to play as a fixed number nine to decide matches. He can move inside from the right, combine with a striker, create chances and take penalties. His Liverpool career produced 193 Premier League goals and 94 assists, and he left England having become the competition’s record holder for goal involvements for one club.

Trabzonspor’s title hopes therefore depend on how quickly Salah connects with the players around him. His arrival gives them a forward capable of creating a goal even when the team is struggling to build attacks.

Who has the strongest title-winning case?

On current evidence, Osimhen is the best of the four heading into 2026-27.

Lukaku has the strongest combination of physical power and experience after Osimhen, but his recent injury record creates uncertainty. Vlahovic has the age advantage at 26 and could enjoy a major revival under a coach who knows him, but he has to prove he can produce consistently over a full Turkish season.

Salah has the greatest creative history and could transform Trabzonspor’s attacking level, yet his 2025-26 numbers were well below the 34 goals and 23 assists he produced for Liverpool in 2024-25.

Osimhen has fewer doubts. He has already scored 26 Super Lig goals in a previous campaign, followed that with 15 league goals in only 22 appearances last season, contributed eight assists and delivered important goals in the Champions League.

Galatasaray also start from the strongest position after finishing seven points clear of Fenerbahce and 17 ahead of Besiktas last season.

If all four forwards stay fit, the 2026-27 race could become a battle between different types of attacking leadership. Lukaku offers power, Vlahovic offers penalty-box finishing, Salah offers creation and experience, but Osimhen combines goals, movement, pressing, aerial ability and proven Super Lig production.

Verdict: Osimhen is the safest and strongest choice to lead his club towards the 2026-27 title.