Arsenal given transfer boost in pursuit of Barcelona star as Turkish giants club president pulls out of race

Besiktas have been closely linked with a move for Barcelona star Arda Turan this season.

Turan has fallen out of favour with Barca head coach Ernesto Valverde and has not made a single appearance all season.

The Black Eagles have however, pulled out of the race for the Turkish international.

Besiktas president Fikret Orman said: “I really like Arda, he has done a great job for the image of Turkish football but we are no longer interested in him. We will not be trying to sign him.”

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The latest development will come as a boost to Arsenal who are also reported to have Turan on their radar.

Marca report that Barcelona have given up hope of receiving a transfer fee for the 30-year-old.

Per the source, the La Liga giants are prepared to part ways with Turan for free to free up the wage bill.

Barcelona also want to get rid of Javier Mascherano as between them the Argentinian international and Turan make up €26m of the club’s spiralling wage bill.

The 30-year-old’s agent Ahmet Bulut meanwhile recently confirmed that he is in talks with a Premier League club over a January transfer.

“I have been in talks with four clubs, everything will be sorted in 15 days,” Bulut was quoted as saying by Turkish-Football.

“Turan will either be loaned out or sold, there are offers from the Premier League, Spain and Italy.”