Chelsea Offered Chance To Sign Arda Turan From Atlético Madrid

Chelsea has been offered the chance to sign Arda Turan from Atlético Madrid in a move which, if a deal can be agreed, would most likely end the Premier League champions' immediate pursuit of Antoine Griezmann, according to Wednesday's edition of The Guardian.

According to the news report, Turan, a Turkey international boasting 81 caps, intends to make a decision this week over his future having indicated that the time has come to leave the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Atlético has two firm bids for his services already on the table, with Barcelona -- whose current transfer embargo would complicate any move this summer -- Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United having been credited with an interest in securing the 28-year-old's services.

The midfielder, who is understood to be attracted to the possibility of moving to London, has a 29 million pound buy-out clause inserted in his current contract, though it is unlikely that figure will have to be met in full when he leaves. Chelsea could potentially offer the Brazil left-back Filipe Luís a return to Atlético as part of any deal, the defender having failed to settle or make a consistent impact since his 16 million pound arrival from the Spanish club last summer, the daily wrote.

Turan was an 8.5 million pound signing from Galatasaray four years ago and has scored 22 goals in 178 appearances, playing an integral part in the success enjoyed by Atletico under Diego Simeone, which includes success in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Europa League and as runner-up in the 2014 Champions League. The player's agent, Ahmet Bulut, suggested earlier this week that a move was imminent for his client.

“A lot of things about his transfer are being published but not everything they say is true,” he told NTVSpor. “We want to clarify that at this time there is a lot of pressure about this situation but we don't want to make a formal statement about his destination before he signs. That being said, in the next four days Arda will decide which team he'll play for next season.”

Bulut added that Atletico had reluctantly accepted Turan's decision to depart. “Our decision really surprised Atlético Madrid,” he said. “They don't want Arda to leave and were persistent, but, in the end, they respected and accepted our decision. But, of course, nothing is completely done until he signs. However, we made sure the message was clear that we wanted to leave Atlético.” The Spanish club may enter the race for Dnipro's Yevhen Konoplyanka as they seek a replacement for the Turkey international.

Griezmann, who enjoyed a productive first season at Atlético following five years at Real Sociedad, had emerged as an early Chelsea target this summer though his own buy-out clause is set at 43 million pounds, with the Spanish club reluctant to part with him at this stage. The 24-year-old is an option to whom the Premier League champions could return in the future, particularly given the close relationship they enjoy with the hierarchy at Vicente Calderon.

There has been interest expressed at Stamford Bridge in Atlético's Toby Alderweireld, who spent last season on loan at Southampton, though Chelsea may now choose not to pursue a deal. The Belgian international remains available but is also coveted by Tottenham Hotspur, with a return to St. Mary's also possible. The Spanish club is selling Brazilian center-half Miranda (30) to Internazionale for a little over 10 million pounds and will sign Porto's Colombia forward, Jackson Martínez, for 24.8 million pounds.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)