Barcelona Transfer News: Andre Gomes Battle, Latest Arda Turan Rumours

Barcelona are reportedly vying with four other clubs to sign Valencia’s midfield maestro Andre Gomes.

That's according to Juan Manuel Diaz of Sport, who has suggested Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea and Juventus are interested in landing the Portugal international. Additionally, Tomas Andreu of Sport has reported the Blaugrana are “on the front line” to sign the player due to “excellent relations” with Valencia.

“It's clear that the outcome is approaching and Los Che are asking for all parties to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, given they need the money sooner rather than later to sign the necessary replacements for the 22-year-old,” added Andreu.

Gomes has been extremely impressive in the Spanish top flight since he joined Valencia from Benfica. Here is a look at some of his best moments in the iconic jersey:

The talents of the Portugal international match up well with the kind of qualities a quintessential Barcelona footballer needs.

Gomes is a player who always looks to be a step ahead on the field. The 22-year-old seems to find spaces on the pitch with ease, something he makes the most of with his brilliant touch and willingness to dribble at opponents. Despite his quality, there have still been some inconsistent spells from the Valencia man, as you would expect from a young player.

FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/Getty Images

Indeed, while Portugal have done superbly to make it to the final of the UEFA European Championship, Gomes has only shown flashes of his talent. ESPN FC’s Dermot Corrigan certainly doesn’t think he’s worth the sums being bandied about:

Barcelona would benefit from having another cerebral and versatile footballer in their squad. Whether or not Gomes would benefit from a move to the Camp Nou is another matter entirely, though. 

The Valencia man needs to make refinements to his game, most notably by becoming a much more reliable threat in the final third of the pitch. That’s something that’ll come with more playing time and responsibility in the starting XI. With Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic, Sergi Roberto, Arda Turan and Denis Suarez at the club, it’s unlikely he’ll get that at the Camp Nou.

Arda Turan Linked with Fenerbahce

VI-Images/Getty Images

According to Jordi Gil of Sport, Turan may be on his way out of Barcelona, with Fenerbahce “amongst a host of clubs” that are looking to land the midfielder in the transfer window.

After moving from Atletico Madrid to Barcelona in 2015 and spending the first half of the season on the sidelines due to the latter’s transfer ban, the Turkey international never showed his best form in the iconic Blaugrana jersey. Despite his poor form and the transfer speculation, Gil suggested the 29-year-old wants to fight for his place in Catalonia.

“‘Arda wants to stay and win the [UEFA] Champions League.’ This is the message that the 29-year-old has passed on himself to coach Luis Enrique and thus close the exit door from the Camp Nou,” it’s noted.

At his very best Turan is certainly a footballer that has a lot to offer Barcelona and he seems a popular figure in the squad. Indeed, as noted by Bleacher Report UK, after a tough summer with the national side his club team-mates came to his aid:

For Atletico, Turan tore up La Liga. He’s a player who can fulfill a host of different roles, able to take the ball in tight spaces and use his nimble feet to wriggle away from markers. Under his former manager Diego Simeone, he added a bite to his work off the ball, a quality that’s always useful in a team that seeks to press high and win possession back quickly.

Such a long time away from competitive football must have put a physical and mental strain on the Turkey international. But with a full pre-season under his belt this summer, not only will he be in better shape, he’ll feel part of the team at the Camp Nou. Perhaps then Barcelona fans will see Turan at his very best.