21 May 2016

Anfield Alert: Barcelona invite offers for 'exceptional' £29m attacker who loves 'Liverpool'. Sign?

Between 2009 and 2015, Liverpool were constantly been linked with a move for exceptional Turkey star Arda Turan, but after his £29m move to Barcelona last summer, the club's chances of signing Turan - a self-confessed LFC fan - appeared to vanish forever. The Reds may get another chance, though, as Barca are reportedly ready to dump Turan this summer.

According to The Mirror:

"Barcelona are open to offers for Turkish midfielder Arda Turan after just nine league starts. The Nou Camp club would look to recoup almost all of the fee paid a year ago".

This follows a report last month in Spanish newspaper AS, which claimed that:

* Turan is unhappy at Barcelona and regrets his decision to leave Atletico Madrid.

* He is desperate to leave at the end of the season.

Turan has a long transfer history with LFC (take a deep breath!)

* Apr 2009: Rafa Benitez reportedly made a €10m move for Turan.

* Dec 2009: Turan told reporters: "I most want to play at Liverpool because of the culture of the club and the fans"

* Mar 2010: Turan reiterated his Anfield preference: "I am a Liverpool supporter, so if I go to play in Europe, I would like to play for Liverpool".

* Oct 2012: Nuri Sahin posted a picture on his Twitter account of Turan in a Liverpool shirt.

* Oct 2012: Liverpool sent an 'observer' to watch Turan in Turkey's World Cup qualifier with Romania.

* Mar 2013: Reports in Spain claimed that the Reds were lining up a €20m summer bid for the Turkish star.

* Aug 2013: ESPN claimed both Liverpool and Arsenal were 'interested' in signing a summer move for Turan.

* Jan 2014: The Liverpool Echo reported: "Brendan Rodgers [is] pondering a move for Arda Turan...before the end of the January"

* Apr 2014: Turan told Four-Four-Two magazine: "I have a soft-spot for Liverpool, especially given their history and the atmosphere at Anfield".

* Jul 2014:Turkish newspaper Sabah Spor claimed that Liverpool 'accelerated efforts' to sign Turan after the collapse of the Alexis Sanchez deal.

* Feb 2015: Tutto Mercato claimed that Liverpool were back on Turan's trail.

* Mar 2015: Tutto Mercato further claimed that Liverpool 'were willing to pay Turan's £30m release clause'.

It seems unlikely that Turan will leave Barcelona after just one half-season. If he leaves now, he'll be deemed a failure, and I'm sure he'll want to prove that he's good enough to mix it with the best.

Given Turan's obvious affinity for Liverpool, the Reds should (in theory) have a slight advantage over any other interested clubs, so if he becomes available, is this a deal worth pursuing?


Author: Jaimie K


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