Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Arda Turan and Mesut Ozil

Arsenal have reportedly identified Barcelona playmaker Arda Turan as the "preferred replacement" for the likely outgoing Mesut Ozil.

According to Matt Hughes in the Times, the Gunners are planning to launch a £25 million bid for the Turkey international in the summer, with Turan set to be deemed surplus to requirements at the Camp Nou come the end of the season.

Hughes added that Arsenal are resigned to losing both Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in the summer—neither has put pen to paper on a new deal ahead of entering the final year of his contract—and Turan is being targeted as part of the necessary rebuild that will be required if they both leave the Emirates Stadium. 

Turan, 30, only joined Barca from Atletico Madrid in 2015 for £26 million, and his contract with the Blaugrana runs until 2020.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

However, he has never been able to nail down a consistent first-team spot and has started just 13 of Barca's 28 games in La Liga in 2016-17, netting three goals and providing three assists, per WhoScored.com.

With manager Luis Enrique set to depart the Camp Nou in the summer, Hughes suggested Turan could be a casualty of an inevitable squad rebuild under a new boss.

Club	Season	Apps	Mins	Goals	Assists
Barcelona	2016-17	13(4)	1154	3	3
Barcelona	2015-16	9(9)	816	2	3
Atletico Madrid	2014-15	28(4)	2347	2	4
Atletico Madrid	2013-14	22(8)	1932	3	4
Atletico Madrid	2012-13	26(6)	2175	5	4
Atletico Madrid	2011-12	24(9)	2167	3	6

Per Hughes, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has long admired Turan, and the former Galatasaray man could be a fine replacement for Ozil.

Though he has not been a regular at Barca, he remains a talented and versatile attacker, able to play on either wing or through the middle.

He has won La Liga twice, having claimed the title with Atleti in 2013-14 and with Barca last season.

Turan is entering the final stages of his career. But he still has plenty to offer as an attacking outlet and could bring precious experience to Arsenal's squad as Ozil's replacement. And at £25 million, he would be decent value.