Reports in Spain claim Liverpool are going back for long-term target Arda Turan and are ready to make a fresh A?25.6m bid this summer.
The Reds have been monitoring Turan for the last 18 months and have been alerted to talk that hea s ready to quit Atletico and move to England.
The 28-year-old became the first Turk to win the La Liga title and was also the captain of Galatasaray where he played for 11 years as a youth and senior player. The attacking midfielder is mostly known for his exceptional ball control, vision and dribbling skills. In his successful 2014 season with Atletico, Turan was nominated for the UEFA Team of the Year for 2014.
The player from Istanbul made a total of 197 appearances for Galatasaray, scored 45 goals and made 76 assists before moving to Atletico in 2011. At Atletico Madrid the player has made 164 appearances, scored 22 and assisted with 32.
Turan has been linked with Liverpool for a very long time and perhaps the Merseyside club is genuinely interested in signing the bearded Turk in the summer. Spending a sum in the region of 25m would surely get Diego Simeone interested but it would not be like Liverpool to spend a huge sum on a player who doesn’t fit FSG’s model. Liverpool’s American owners have only gone for players under the age of 25 years, who show a lot of talent and potential to be world-class in the future. It has also been reported that they look for players where wages are not an issue. If Turan were to leave the Spanish giants, he’d command a good personal fee as well which could be a stumbling block for the Reds, especially since Manchester United are the other interested party and with their finances, could well lure the 28 year old their way. However, Turan is a reported Liverpool fan and his love for the club might see him come to Merseyside if Liverpool’s interest is genuine. In fact, just in 2014, he was asked if it was true that he was a Reds fan. He had then said, “I’ve always played for teams in red [Galatasaray, Manisaspor, Turkey] and I’ve always admired Steven Gerrard. So yes, I have a soft spot for Liverpool, especially given their history and the atmosphere at Anfield”.
The fact that in the last three or four transfer windows, the Reds have constantly been linked with the player suggests that Brendan Rodgers rates the player and wants him at Anfield to play for his side. Turan would be a wonderful addition to the ranks at the Anfield outfit and his experience and quality would help the young Liverpool squad immensely in their competitiveness next season where they would want to be challenging for trophies on all fronts.