Barcelona Transfer News: Arda Turan Rumours, Lastest on Paul Pogba

Reported Barcelona transfer target Arda Turan has fuelled speculation that he’ll leave Atletico Madrid this summer, claiming his agent is in talks with a selection of clubs regarding a transfer.

There have been myriad reports doing the rounds about the Turkish international's future, and he took to Twitter to clarify the situation:

As noted by Football Espana, Turan has been linked with a move to the Catalan giants, as well as Premier League juggernauts Chelsea and Manchester United. It’s also written that Josep Maria Bartomeu has promised to land the 28-year-old should he win the upcoming presidential elections.

Here’s a look at what Turan could potentially add to the Barcelona side:

It’s easy to see why Barcelona might be keen on the Atleti man. Turan is not only well-acquainted with La Liga, but he can also operate in various roles across midfield and possesses the inherent technical qualities that are imperative in order to thrive as an attacking player at the Camp Nou.

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Football journalist Rafael Hernandez thinks that whichever club does eventually land the midfielder, he’ll be a wonderful acquisition:

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Arda Turan release clause is approximately €41m, would be a perfect addition to Chelsea and Manchester United. Worth every penny.

— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) June 25, 2015"

There are some problems with a potential move to Barcelona, however. He’s a player who would cost the Catalonians big money, and at the age of 28, perhaps the summer budget could be better-utilised elsewhere. In addition, it’s tough to see where Turan would fit into an already formidable Blaugrana attack.

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As noted by Sid Lowe of the Guardian, although Turan’s talent is beyond dispute, he doesn’t seem like the right fit for the European champions:

Turan’s marriage of intricacy and industry would be perfect for the Premier League on paper, and it’d be no surprise to see Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, a manager who loves to blend those two attributes, make a move for him.

If Barca were to come in, maybe Turan would fancy staying in Spain. The lure of a team as prestigious as the Catalonians would be difficult to turn down. But with the upcoming presidential elections and the club’s current transfer sanctions considered—Turan wouldn’t be able to play for Barcelona until 2016—the Premier League seems his most likely destination at this juncture.

Barcelona to “Thrash Out” Pogba Deal

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Paul Pogba seems to be edging closer to Barcelona, with fresh reports suggesting the Catalonians will meet with Juventus this week to push a deal through.

That’s according to Adam Smith of the Mail Online, who claims that strong interest in the player from Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain has sparked the Blaugrana chiefs into action. As noted by Smith, according to Mundo Deportivo, the Spanish champions will receive “preferential treatment” in pursuit of the Frenchman.

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As we can see here, courtesy of InfosBarcelona, Mundo Deportivo seems pretty convinced that Pogba will become a Barcelona player:

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Mundo Confirms ,Pogba's deal is closed and that Barca have agreed with juve that they wont sell him to any other club pic.twitter.com/Xk65hcdIYX

— InfosBarcelona (@InfosBarcelona) June 28, 2015"

If he was to sign this summer, Pogba wouldn’t be able to don the iconic red and blue until January, when the Blaugrana’s transfer ban is lifted. Until then, with Xavi Hernandez gone, Barcelona may have to rely on some younger heads at the heart of midfield. Bleacher Report’s Andy Brassell took a look at which prodigious players could fill that void:

Still, it’s easy to see why Barcelona are in the hunt for Pogba. Stylistically, he’s not the same type of player as Xavi, but in terms of the principles Luis Enrique implemented—a more direct, incisive style of play—the Bianconeri star’s ability to control a game with technical panache and raw physicality represent a tremendous fit.

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As we can see here, courtesy of WhoScored.com, Pogba would be at ease with the pressing tactics so often deployed by Barcelona too:

It seems as though the Blaugrana are keen on this special footballer, and although there are a clutch of illustrious teams seemingly in the hunt for his services, there are few clubs that boast an allure quite like Barcelona's.

Juventus will be in no hurry to sell their prized asset, and another season in Turin wouldn't be bad for the 22-year-old’s development. But few associated with the Bianconeri will be expecting Pogba to stay much longer, and at this point, if he were to leave, the Nou Camp looks like a perfect landing spot.