Premier League season is just a few weeks away and every team is working hard to strengthen their squad in order to improve their position from last season. Chelsea and Arsenal are two of those teams, who will need a number of new recruitments in they are to mount a proper title challenge next season. Both these teams have been linked with a number of players this summer, however not many deals have come through. Arsenal signed Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka earlier in the summer, while Chelsea recently announced the signature of Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi.
Recently Arsenal and Chelsea have both been linked with Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan. The Turkey international joined the Catalan giants last summer from Atletico Madrid for £34m but was unable to make his debut for his new side until January 2016 due to a transfer embargo on the club. A year later, he did indeed add a handful of trophies to his collection although he only played a bit part role as he found it difficult to cement a spot in the starting line-up, featuring just nine times in the league and scoring twice.
Arda was tantalisingly close to joining the Blues, but the Blaugrana convinced him to move to Catalonia with the chance of winning many titles with the team. It is well known that Arsene Wenger’s top priority this summer is getting a world class striker over to the Emirates. Therefore it came a shock to some fans that Wenger pursuing an attacking midfielder so vigorously.
He is valued in the region of around £23m. With Wenger’s assumed resources, taking that big of a chunk out on a player that isn’t a necessity takes the funds away from other players who are necessities. with Chamberlain, Iwobi and Serge Gnabry already in the squad, The Gunners can find a healthy combination that will supplement the attack better than Arda Turan possibly could. In that much playing time, they will grow into their role, rather than being stuck being the Turk waiting.
Chelsea on the other hand can do with a quality midfielder who can take the pressure off players like Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard. The 29 year has the necessary qualities required to play a major part in Antonio Conte’s team and make a good contribution towards the team’s performance. Turan is a physically strong player, who will fit in quickly to the pace and physicality of the Premier League.
Turan was one of the star players of Diego Simeone’s side which thrashed Chelsea 4-1 in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup in Monaco. He also scored the final goal in Atletico’s 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge in the 2014 Champions League semifinal second leg. Give the conditions surrounding the deal, one feels Turan will be a better fit and more valued at Chelsea, where his need is more.