Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a move to sign out-of-favour Barcelona forward Arda Turan this summer.
According to a report by Spanish publication AS, Arda Turan’s agent Ahmet Bulut is in Barcelona to negotiate an exit from Camp Nou, with the player not featuring in Ernesto Valverde’s plans for the season. Boyhood club Galatasaray and Manchester United are interested in signing him.
Turan’s career has been on a downward spiral ever since he sealed his dream move to Barcelona from Atletico Madrid. In fact, the dream has turned into a nightmare for the player who, after making a belated debut for the Blaugrana due to their transfer ban, has managed to start a mere 24 games.
With Neymar and Lionel Messi firmly established in the starting roles on either side of attack, nailing down a spot as a regular was always going to be a tall order for Turan. Following the Brazilian’s sensational move to PSG though, the Turk’s prospects don’t seem to have improved much.
Newly appointed Barcelona manager, Ernesto Valverde has chosen to deploy Gerard Deulofeu and Denis Suarez as his side’s left wingers, leaving Turan in a limbo at Camp Nou. And, with the Blaugrana hoping to sign Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho, he is likely to resume his role of a squad player.
Just hold on, Arda Turan might be coming home ??? pic.twitter.com/kbwpot2C4X
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 8, 2017
With his career headed nowhere with Barcelona, the player is now set to call time on his spell at the club. Thus, his agent, Ahmet Bulut is in Barcelona to facilitate his exit from the Catalan club before the transfer window slams shut.
Boyhood club Galatasaray have expressed an interest in signing him in recent weeks, with Turan keen on heading back to Turkey as well. But, Manchester United have also joined the race to sign the Barcelona outcast this summer.
Jose Mourinho has gone on record to state that he is looking to add another attacking player to his squad before the transfer window closes. And having failed in his pursuit of Ivan Perisic, he has now identified Turan as a target.
The Manchester United boss is a long-time admirer of the player’s talents, and with Bulut in contact with Jorge Mendes, a move to Old Trafford could be in the offing.
Indeed, Turan’s ability to play in the wide areas will be a big boost for Mourinho, who currently has Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Juan Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard as his only options to add width in attack.
Turan’s inconsistencies, though, are a possible cause for concern for the Portuguese manager, who is looking to challenge for the Premier League title this season.
As far as the player is concerned, he is unlikely to start week in week out at Manchester United either. Therefore, a move back to Galatasaray could be his best chance to secure regular first-team football this season. It now remains to be seen where he heads off to, with an exit from Camp Nou exit destined to happen.
