Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Arda Turan from Atlético Madrid in a move which, if a deal can be agreed, would most likely end the Premier League champions’ immediate pursuit of Antoine Griezmann.
Turan, a Turkey international boasting 81 caps, intends to make a decision this week over his future having indicated the time has come to leave Vicente Calderón. Atlético have two firm bids for his services already on the table, with Barcelona – whose current transfer embargo would complicate any move this summer – Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United having been credited with an interest in securing the 28-year-old’s services.
The midfielder, who is understood to be attracted to the possibility of moving to London, has a £29m buyout clause inserted in his current contract, though it is unlikely that figure will have to be met in full when he leaves. Chelsea could potentially offer the Brazil left-back Filipe Luís a return to Atlético as part of any deal, the defender having failed to settle or make a consistent impact since his own £16m arrival from the Spanish club last summer.
Turan was an £8.5m signing from Galatasaray four years ago and, having made 178 appearances and scored 22 goals, has played an integral part in the success enjoyed by Atlético under Diego Simeone, which includes success in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Europa League and as beaten finalists in the 2014 Champions League. The player’s agent, Ahmet Bulut, suggested earlier this week that a move was imminent for his client.
“A lot of things about his transfer are being published but not everything they say is true,” he told NTVSpor. “We want to clarify that at this time there is a lot of pressure about this situation but we don’t want to make a formal statement about his destination before he signs. That being said, in the next four days Arda will decide which team he’ll play for next season.”
Bulut added that Atlético had reluctantly accepted Turan’s decision to depart. “Our decision really surprised Atlético Madrid,” he said. “They don’t want Arda to leave and were persistent but in the end, they respected and accepted our decision. But of course, nothing is completely done until he signs. However, we made sure the message was clear that we wanted to leave Atlético.” The Spanish club may enter the race for Dnipro’s Yevhen Konoplyanka as they seek a replacement for the Turkey international.
Griezmann, who enjoyed a productive first season at Atlético following five years at Real Sociedad, had emerged early as a Chelsea target this summer though his own buyout clause is set at £43m, with the Spanish club reluctant to part with him at this stage. The 24-year-old is an option to whom the Premier League champions could return in future, particularly given the close relationship they enjoy with the hierarchy at Vicente Calderón.
There has been interest expressed at Stamford Bridge in Atlético’s Toby Alderweireld, who spent last season on loan at Southampton, though Chelsea may now opt not to pursue a deal. The Belgian international remains available but is also coveted by Tottenham Hotspur, with a return to St Mary’s also possible. The Spanish club are selling their Brazilian centre-half Miranda, 30, to Internazionale for a little over £10m and will sign Porto’s Colombia forward, Jackson Martínez, for £24.8m.
