Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Barcelona could complete the signing of Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan “in the next few hours”.
The newspaper claims Ramon Adell, President of the executive board currently overseeing Barca’s day-to-day operations during the election campaign, was previously reluctant to sanction the Turkey international’s arrival.
However, both Atleti and the player’s desire for the move to go through, coupled with Los Colchoneros setting a Sunday deadline, have forced Adell to review the case, and he is now expected to give his go-ahead.
Adell has been criticised by presidential candidates Joan Laporta and Agusti Benedito for sanctioning the sales of Gerard Deulofeu and Martin Montoya, with the pair believing that the executive board should not have the authority to influence player recruitment.
However, the interim will argue that the club cannot afford to miss out on the opportunity of signing a player of Arda’s calibre.
If Barca do not meet Sunday’s deadline, despite a deal purportedly being in the pipeline for several months, then the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United are expected to enter the fray.
