According to latest reports, La Liga side Barcelona are willing to let go of their midfielder Arda Turan for free now after manager Ernesto Valverde has excluded the Turkish star from his plans for the season. Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool are willing to do everything to secure his services and the 30-year-old’s nightmarish stint at Nou Camp could well force him to look for regular chances elsewhere.
Barcelona’s decision with Turan isn’t something new. He was asked to leave the club back in January itself when he had a real the chance of joining China in a mega-money deal and earn millions. However, the player decided to stay in Europe and accept Barca’s indifferent behaviour to finish his contract that is till 2020.
His career with the Catalans had started on a poor note as the midfielder had agreed on a deal with them during a transfer ban. He was not allowed to play for the first six months of his contract, but since his return in January 2016, he has started just 23 La Liga matches.
However, Neymar’s departure and injury to Luis Suarez that keeps him out for up to a month saw Valverde giving Turan a chance on the bench in Barca’s 2-0 opening league win against Real Betis, although he didn’t play. It was also followed by Turkey’s new Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu naming Turan in the 26-player squad that plays two qualifiers in early September against Ukraine and Croatia.
Arsenal have shown a long-term interest in Turan and had even reportedly tabled a £30 million bid for him. Arsene Wenger faces a huge crisis in his midfield at the moment with Santiago Cazorla injured and the likes of Mohamed Elneny and Jack Wilshere facing uncertain futures at the club.
Arsenal have started the season poorly in the league with a win and loss against Leicester City and Stoke City respectively and a lack of proper defensive midfielder has been a concern for the manager and the club. With Granit Xhaka a proper regista in the deep midfield, Wenger primarily needs a tireless worker who can keep things safe around him in the defensive third.
While Francis Coquelin executes that up to a certain extent, he lacks the finesse in front of goal. And in case of Aaron Ramsey, it is just the opposite. The Welshman has been brilliant on the offence but shaky defensive wise. With just days to go before the transfer window closes, Wenger would want to solve the crisis and Turan’s availability opens up things for him.
