Manchester United Transfer News: Arda Turan Decision Imminent, Latest Rumours

Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan is set to make a decision on his long-term future in the next few days, with reports continuing to link the Turkish international with a move to Manchester United.

According to Marca, the Red Devils, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are all in the hunt for the 28-year-old. As noted in the aforementioned piece, Turan’s agent, Ahmet Bulut, has revealed to NTV Spor that the player’s next destination will be determined soon:

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We will not make a formal announcement until he signs. Arda will decide where he wants to play next season in the next four days.

Our decision to leave Atletico was a big shock to them, they didn't want Arda to go. When we sat down to look at the plan for Arda's career and thought about what he had gained at Atletico over the four years we came to the conclusion that leaving Atletico was the right thing to do.

"

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There's little denying Turan will be a major loss for the Rojiblancos. The Turk’s intricacy on the ball, adaptability and tenacity in his defensive duties make him a perfect fit for Diego Simeone's side, and they'll find his influence on the flanks difficult to replace.

WhoScored.com gave us an overview of a player who, as we can see, has few weaknesses in his game:

Needless to say, he’d be a wonderful signing for Manchester United. Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal may not employ tactics that are similar to Simeone's, but throughout the Dutchman’s distinguished managerial career, he has always looked to acquire players who possess pragmatic values. Turan falls squarely into that category.

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But as these statistics from Squawka Football illustrate, Turan is the kind of player who will have the Old Trafford faithful on the edge of their seats too:

The 28-year-old has all the attributes to be a roaring success in the Premier League, and if United were to bring him to the club, he’d have a huge impact. But given the teams supposedly interested in this unique midfield talent, Van Gaal may face a fight if he’s to lure Turan to Manchester.

David De Gea Set for Pre-Season Return

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After a summer of untamed transfer speculation regarding a potential move to Real Madrid, David De Gea looks as though he’ll have to face the awkward proposition of returning to pre-season training with United.

According to Jeremy Cross of the Daily Star, the Spaniard is “desperate” to join Los Blancos, but a club source quoted in the piece suggests De Gea may have to wait a little longer yet: "Unless a deal is struck before the start of next week, which is unlikely, then David will be back at the club for pre-season training, which is not ideal for all concerned."

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As noted by Mike Keegan of MailOnline, United are taking a staunch stance on any potential transfer, insisting Real fork out a whopping £35 million for the 24-year-old.

Even with one year left on his current Red Devils contract, Andy Heaton of the Anfield Wrap thinks that kind of money would represent excellent value:

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£35m for De Gea is an absolute steal

— Andy Heaton (@Andrew_Heaton) June 27, 2015"

But if Real hold fire, they could potentially land De Gea on a pre-contract in January. While it may mean not having the Spaniard around this season, it would make a lot of business sense, plus, in Iker Casillas and Keylor Navas, Los Blancos have two capable goalkeepers in situ already.

Nonetheless, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Johnson thinks it is a situation Real need to sort out quickly:

Sports journalist Rafael Hernandez believes the Spanish international is unlikely to stay, so United should start looking at contingency plans:

The bold stance United are taking when it comes to this deal is admirable, as many clubs in the same situation would roll over to the might of Real. But it’s a precarious game to play that could see the Red Devils losing their best asset for nothing in 12 months' time. As such, it’s important the club pick their battles carefully.

De Gea may feel a little awkward heading back to pre-season, but there are few United supporters who will feel too much sympathy for him. After all, as noted by Cross, he’s been offered a handsome new deal by the club, and with that in mind, he should continue to show an immaculate level of professionalism for the duration of this transfer saga.