<
>

Istanbul Basaksehir close in on deal for Barcelona's Arda Turan

Istanbul Basaksehir have confirmed they are hopeful of completing a deal for Arda Turan this month, with Barcelona happy to let the midfielder leave providing an agreement can be reached.

Basaksehir president Goksel Gumusdag said the club have held several meetings with Turan, his agents and Barca during the past week with the aim of bringing the Turkey international back to his homeland.

Gumusdag said that talks have gone well and suggested an agreement is already in place with Turan, who had been linked to Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire, but added that nothing has been finalised with Barca yet.

"Our directors have been speaking with his agents and they have told us that Arda Turan would be very happy to come to our club," he said via a statement on the club's official website.

The Turkish club are also known as Medipol Basaksehir -- after one of their sponsors -- and Gumusdag says they would require help to cover the price of signing Turan.

"I have spoken with Barca's CEO, Oscar Grau, too, and despite the cost of the operation, our two main sponsors are ready to make a sacrifice to get the deal done," he added.

"But we have to respect Barcelona and we have to wait for the necessary procedures to be carried out. My team, the player's agents and Barcelona are in contact and we hope for a positive outcome."

Turan joined Barca from Atletico Madrid in 2015 but has struggled to make an impact at Camp Nou and the Catalan club are prepared to take a hit on the €35 million they paid for him.

The 30-year-old commands a big salary and the club are keen to reduce the wage bill this month following the signing of Philippe Coutinho.

Ernesto Valverde has not handed Turan a single minute of competitive action since taking charge last summer and will not stand in the way of a transfer.

Ahmet Bulut, Turan's agent, had hoped to generate interest from Premier League clubs, but nothing has materialised and if an agreement can be reached between Barca and Basaksehir he will return to Turkey.

Barca would prefer to move Turan on a permanent basis, but would be open to a loan move if his wages are covered and they receive a small fee. His contract runs until 2020.

Turan has scored 15 goals in 55 appearances for Barcelona. Prior to that, he played a key part in Diego Simeone's early success at Atletico, whom he joined from Galatasaray in 2011.