Chelsea

Chelsea, Liverpool & Man Utd Do Battle Over £29m Attacker As Agent Confirms Talks

Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd are set to do battle over the signing of Arda Turan as the attackers agent confirms he’s in talks with three Premier League clubs

by
Fraser Crawford
June 24, 2015

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd are linked with Arda Turan…

Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are set to do battle over the signing of Arda Turan with the attackers agent confirming he’s in talks with three Premier League clubs, according to the Mirror.

Turan made his name at Galatasaray before earning a big-money move to Atletico Madrid in 2011 and he’s continue to forge a reputation as one of the best attackers in Europe during his time in Spain.

The 28-year-old played a key role in helping Diego Simeone’s men lift the La Liga title in 2013/14 but it appears he could be about to end his four-year stay at the Vicente Calderon, with a move to seemingly England on the cards.

ESPN carry quotes from Turan’s agent, Ahmet Bulut, who claims that the winger wants to leave Spain in search of a new challenge but warns that any club will need to match his €41m (£29m) release clause.

Bulut also revealed that while the likes of PSG and AC Milan are keen, he says his client wants to test himself in the Premier League and he’s already holding talks with three interested clubs.

“[Arda] intends to leave Spain this summer,” Bulut is quoted as saying by ESPN

“His wish is to leave to play in the Premier League, at this moment that is the path he would like to take to further his career. His exit from Atletico is not something easy, as he has a release clause of €41 million. There are conversations under way with three teams, at the moment I cannot say the names, but they are the best teams in England and European football.”

“It’s true, Milan and PSG are two of the six teams which have shown an interest in him, but the Italian team are not one of his options, as they are not playing in the Champions League. PSG are a possibility, but Arda always wanted to test himself in England.”

Bulut refused to name the interested parties but the Mirror claim Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United and the clubs involved so it looks like the trio are now set to do-battle over Turan’s signature this summer.

Louis van Gaal is likely to be busy in the transfer market again this summer as he looks to turn United back into title-challengers and a player of Turan’s stature would certainly fit the bill.

Chelsea have only just won a league and cup double but Jose Mourinho isn’t one for standing still and with the future’s of Mohamed Salah and Juan Cuadrado in doubt, Turan may be lined-up as a potential replacement.

Liverpool have been one of the busiest clubs in the transfer window so far and Turan has the kind of quality Brendan Rodgers’ needs to make his side top-four challengers again next season, although it remains to be seen whether the Merseysiders interest will remain following the acquisition of Roberto Firmino.

It’s gearing up to be an interesting battle between three English giants but you’d have to say that Chelsea and United may be considered favourites ahead of Liverpool as they can offer Turan Champions League football.

Atletico are likely to do all they can to hang on to the Turkish international so I’d expect them to demand the full value of his £29m release clause, but we’ll have to wait and see whether any club is willing to match that figure.

Turan certainly has the quality to command such a fee in today’s market and at 28 he’s still got a few years left at the very highest level. His main position is right wing but he’s capable of playing anywhere across the attacking positions, so I think he’d be an excellent signing for any of the three clubs supposedly in the running.