Arda Turan: Turkish Golden Boy to Seal ‘Dream’ Move to Liverpool
According to reports in the Turkish press, Rafa Benitez rejected the January transfer window bid from Birmingham for Ryan Babel as he was trying to finalise a deal with Turkish giants Galatasaray for a swap deal plus cash for their captain and star man Arda Turan. No deal could be reached in time but the Turkish star is expected to complete a deal this summer and his quotes to Uefa.com confirm the player wants to move.
Turan said, “Of course I want to play abroad but it is our board’s decision. As I always mention, Liverpool attracts me because of their tradition. In Europe, I am a Liverpool supporter, so if I go to play in Europe, I would like to play for them.
“My dream has always been to play for one of the top European clubs, but you shouldn’t make concrete plans in your life because sometimes these plans cannot be achieved. This is my dream, but for now I’m just working on my football.”
The player was widely expected to leave Galatasaray last summer with the club finishing a highly disappointing 5th in the Turkish league, 10 points behind champions Besiktas. However, it would seem that this will be his last season playing for the club with Benitez and the player keen to seal a deal.
An added bonus for Liverpool would be the player’s versatility as he can play on either flank or even in a more central role. It’s no surprise that Liverpool are so interested with the golden boy of Turkish football as Rafa Benitez has been looking to add some much needed flair to his strong outfit for some time. Alberto Aquilani and Maxi Rodriguez may have joined but Arda is far more of a dribbler with the capability to beat defenders on a consistent basis.
The 23-year-old Galatasaray midfielder enjoyed an excellent campaign individually last season even though the team ultimately struggled after scoring 7 goals in 29 league appearances (27 starts). In the 2007/08 season he also weighed in with 7 goals in 30 league appearances (29 starts) which led to interest from England, Spain and Italy. As new captain of the side, Arda has scored 7 goals in 21 league appearances this season as the club sit top in the league, 4 points clear of 2nd place Bursaspor. The player would like to leave the club on a high and a league title would be the perfect send-off for the fans favourite. Arda is a team-mate of former Liverpool star Harry Kewell and reports suggest the Australian has given a glowing report about life at Anfield.
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Since breaking into the first team he has scored an impressive 26 goals from 107 (101 starts) league appearances and has become a mainstay of the team that won the 2007/08 Turkish title. His match-winning performances in Turkey’s superb Euro 2008 displays also intensified the growing interest in the exciting winger as well as increased his price tag.
The player is expected to cost around £13m which may not be too much of a gamble for Liverpool if he can realise his amazing potential in England. Rafa Benitez is reported to have offered £3m and Ryan Babel for the Turkish star in January which would be good business with the sales of Andrei Voronin and Andrea Dossena comfortably covering that outlay.
Arda has won 36 caps for his country (4 goals) despite his tender age after progressing from the U19 and U21 sides. The winger is both quick and two footed and has been likened to former Galatasaray legend Gheorghe Hagi in his home country, so should give you an idea of how highly he is rated.
If Arda does join Rafa Benitez’ team this summer then the amount of creative attacking talent at the Spaniard’s disposal would be hugely increased following the arrival of Maxi Rodriguez in January. Arda fits the bill in terms of creativity and technical ability but we will have to wait and see if Liverpool can indeed secure the golden boy of Turkish football.
So would you like to see this exciting young talent in the Premier League or do you feel he could flatter to deceive in the hurly burly pace of the English top flight? Let’s hear your views.
Tags: Arda Turan, Football Pools, Galatasaray, Liverpool, Premier 10, Turkey
March 5th, 2010 at 12:16
bang on this player is just about the best type of player that rafa can get to fit his long long search to find a quality workman like wideman with the ability to play in different team shapes and many systems.
turan is it, liverpoolm would do well i getting this guy to melwood, he has pace, he has age on his side, he has a proven record and ability not to get injuries which is a massive problem at the club already, he has a good background of playing in big games and he has already played in many european games too.
sell babel, reira, aurelio, plessies, el zhar and some other fringe players.
get in shaun wright phillips for the right side turan for the left side, and finally the one we all have wanted david villa up top.
villa torres
turan mascherano gerrard phillips
insua agger carragher johnson
reina
what a side and with a outlay of just 70 mill, and with over 24 mill recouped thats just over 50 mill spent, if we can not let rafa once and for all have a great summer in the market getting some quality to this great club then that its for another 2 3 seasons, man city will add again so will chelsea and sso will utd. its time we started spending on bigger and better players, either that or off will walk torres, mascherano, gerrard, so take heed hicks and gillett
March 5th, 2010 at 15:01
Liverpool should buy him he’s a very good player
March 5th, 2010 at 15:22
have watched him a few times now.he looks a very exciting player, who would do a job anywhere in midfield.im surprised he has’nt had more admirers,so rafa sign him up quick before the moneybag clubs come sniffing.
March 6th, 2010 at 11:47
Best left-winger alongside Franck Ribéry right now, could be an amazing deal, but Rafa hasn`t made any clear statements about Turan, so I won`t get over the top because of one article that says it COULD end up in a deal.
March 6th, 2010 at 12:04
defo need to sign him up,quality player,and why are people doubting his ability to play in the PL because of size and strength? you don’t need to big 6foot plus to be successful,look at the likes of fabregas,arshavin etc and in addition to that,our very own Dani Pachecho! i would also like a CB partnership of Agger and Kjaer next season!
March 7th, 2010 at 05:13
I’m a Turkish fan from GALATASARAY.I Think Arda must go to EPL And To Liverpool , Arsenal or Manchester City(United)He have not speed not condic.But he have skill that he use in EPL he have a GREAT Game İntelligent.
Sİng him Quikly Or Arsenal,Manchester sing him..
March 16th, 2010 at 11:16
Arda is a great signing for us. If another club from premier league or spanish league signs him, i guess his price will be too much for us to affort. We all accept that Frank Ribery is now the best player in the world in his position. I just learned Ribery also played for Galatasaray. After all these news, i dont want to see arda playing for atletico madris or else, and barcelona,chelsea offering 40-50 millions for him and we are watching. So we have to move now…
April 24th, 2010 at 09:34
I am 10 yrs old and think Arda Turan is awesome!!!My name is Arda and my dad is called Turan!I support Man City so i really want Arda Turan to play in premier league but want him to come to Man City and not Liverpool!I have just got a new Galatasaray shirt with the great No.10 and Arda on the back which is great cos its really my name too!!
April 30th, 2010 at 23:50
ı live in istanbul arda play for only 60 minutes on the game he is not strong player he never play premiere league
May 13th, 2010 at 18:52
If rafa lets this one slip i’l have to hire an assasin to wack the fat spanish waiter. Amazing player that could be the missing link