Arsenal considering £25million bid for Barcelona’s Arda Turan – could he replace Mesut Ozil?

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With Arsene Wenger having confirmed that talks over a new contract with Mesut Ozil have been postponed with only 15 months left on his existing, the Times say that Arsenal are considering a £25 million bid for Barcelona star Arda Turan as the club begin to consider potential replacements for the German. The Turkey captain has only been in Barcelona for two years since joining from Atletico Madrid but has not become the key man that many had hoped.

Would he be able to replace Ozil?

It would certainly be an interesting test, as Turan has shown that he has the qualities. With 13 goals and seven assists so far this season, he has averaged a goal or assist for every game he has started this season. Whether or not he would succeed in the Premier League will be a challenge, given that he has previously been criticised for a lack of fitness, but he has the strength, technical quality and the footballing intelligence to get by.

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Is a move likely to be successful?

Probably. Barcelona are not in the best place financially and some pundits have speculated that the new man in charge in the summer may have the task of selling a number of first team players. That may put the Catalan club in a position where they would be happy to sell a player with only 19 starts this season. The biggest doubt will be whether or not £25 million is deemed as acceptable by Barcelona given that they paid £26 million to sign him only two years ago.

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Now aged 30, Turan would not represent a long-term solution for the Gunners and they may, as such, be reluctant to pay a much higher price. Capable of playing in attacking midfield or on the wing, and even in central midfield at a push, he would bring a flexible option which could attract Arsene Wenger, but it does seem that he would be a step down from Ozil if it is the case that he is being considered as a direct replacement for the German.

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