Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Arda Turan and Jeremy Mathieu

Arda Turan and Jeremy Mathieu will reportedly be allowed to leave Barcelona this summer, with the club open to offers for both players. Turan has been the subject of exit rumours involving Premier League side Arsenal.

A report from Spanish source AS (h/t Blair Newman of Football Whispers, via Sky Sports) detailed the interest in both players:

"Jeremy Mathieu and Arda Turan are both set to depart Barcelona this summer. The former has been offered a deal with Marseille, though clubs in Turkey are also said to be interested. The latter has been an Arsenal transfer target for some time, but has also had proposals from Chinese football."

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Talk of Turan moving to the Gunners this summer has been building for a while. In fact, the 30-year-old has reportedly agreed terms with Arsenal, but the two clubs can't settle on a transfer fee, according to Spanish source El Desmarque (h/t Metro), with the Spanish giants said to be asking for £26 million.

Barca's keenness to sell Turan is a little strange. The former Atletico Madrid man is still a credible source of goals and creativity in the final third. Despite playing only sparingly for the Blaugrana this season, the Turkey international still managed 11 goals and provided four assists, per WhoScored.com.

On a technical level, Turan retains the vision and flair that make him a natural fit for the expansive, possession-based game Barca love to play.

If his skills are no longer wanted at the Camp Nou, then Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger—another believer in attractive, attacking football—would certainly value the cultured and versatile winger.

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Barcelona attempting to move Mathieu on makes more sense. After all, the Frenchman is now 33 and has struggled to hold down a regular starting place despite being versatile enough to play as a central defender or left-back.

Barca have younger players at the back who are ready to thrive. Specifically, 23-year-old Samuel Umtiti was one of the few consistent performers defensively during previous manager Luis Enrique's final season in charge.

New boss Ernesto Valverde can build his defence around ex-Lyon ace Umtiti and move Mathieu on. Selling the veteran is a process helped by interest from Portugal in Sporting CP, per A Bola (h/t Sport).

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Valverde will be looking to quickly reshape Barca's squad in his own image. It means several players could be moved on, yet while Mathieu seems obviously surplus to requirements, the club may regret selling a player of Turan's forward-thinking quality.