Arda Turan offered mammoth contract by Man United but is holding out for a move to Chelsea
Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan
Arda Turan has been offered a mammoth contract by Manchester United after Barcelona failed to make a bid for him, but the Atletico Madrid midfielder is believed to be holding out for a move to Chelsea as he nears a Premier League switch.
Turan’s agent announced earlier this week that the future of the 28-year-old Turkey international will be known by today, with four clubs believed to be in the hunt for his permanent transfer.
Spanish and European champions Barcelona appeared to be the favourites to land Turan, but Cadena Ser have reported that an offer from the Catalans is yet to be received by Atletico and it’s believed that Barcelona’s imminent presidential election has halted any and all transfer negotiations until 18 July.
That has cleared the way for a move to the Premier League, and Spanish newspaper AS is reporting that United have made an official approach for Turan in the hope of persuading him to move to Old Trafford. Last week it was suggested that Turan had already undergone a medical with United should a deal suddenly be agreed, and with interest also coming from Chelsea, United are desperate to get the move over the line as soon as possible.
Atletico put their own deadline of 8 July to get his sale completed after his agent Ahmet Bulut informed the club that he wants to leave this summer, and the player himself took to Twitter to try and clear up the varying rumours over his future.
Turan had already posted a message to suggest that reports in the media were off the mark, and with reports in Spain claiming the Barcelona move was a done deal, Turan once again rubbished any suggestions that he was on his way to the Nou Camp.
“Some media outlets, reports are not correct for what I've done in celebration of the transfer. I'm on vacation and just resting,” he tweeted.
Paris Saint-Germain were also interest in signing Turan, who won La Liga with Atletico in 2013/14, but they appear to be out of the race and have turned their attentions elsewhere as a result. With Barcelona currently under a Fifa-imposed transfer ban, Turan would not be able to play for the club until January at the earliest, and the suggestion that he could join Turkish side Galatasaray until he is eligible to play for Luis Enrique’s side, according to AS, has been dismissed.
