Posted by someone else elsewhere (the Babel thread - thought it might be better to have it's own thread). Personally would be very happy to see him instead of Babel at the club. He's also supposedly got 16 assists this year, so his contribution is unquestionable. Can't see it happening, but could be great, and it's not unlikely that he's on Rafa's list particularly with his penchant for captains. But it's all about the moneys. From a not so reputable source so just probably idle gossip but feck it I'm excited anyway.... Arda Turan: Liverpool in £13M Babel Swap Deal for Dazzling Turkish Star According to reports in the Turkish press, Rafa Benitez rejected the recent bid from Birmingham for Ryan Babel as they are in negotiations with Turkish giants Galatasaray for a swap deal plus cash for their captain and star man Arda Turan. The player was widely expected to leave Galatasaray last summer with the club finishing a highly disappointing 5th in the Turkish league, 10 points behind champions Besiktas. However, it would seem this will now be Arda’s last season with the club before moving abroad although Benitez is trying to push through a deal this month as he looks to claw back a Champions League place by the end of the current campaign. An added bonus for potential suitors of Arda is the player’s versatility as he can play on either flank or even in a more central role. It’s no surprise that Liverpool are so strongly linked to the golden boy of Turkish football as Rafa Benitez has been looking to add some much needed flair to his strong outfit. The injuries to Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun have led Liverpool to attempt to push through a deal as soon as possible with the team lacking its most creative and goal scoring talent. The 22-year-old Galatasaray midfielder enjoyed an excellent season individually last season even though the team ultimately struggled after scoring 7 goals in 29 league appearances (27 starts). In the 2007/08 season he also weighed in with 7 goals in 30 league appearances (29 starts) which led to interest from England, Spain and Italy. As new captain of the side, Arda has scored 4 goals in 16 league appearances this season as the club sit 2nd in the league, 1 point behind leaders Fenerbahce. Arda is a team-mate of former Liverpool star Harry Kewell and reports suggest the Australian has given a glowing report about life at Anfield.
"Harry kewell has given him a glowing report about life at anfield" I bet you have harry,i bet you have.
Spot on.... Im not too up with turkish football lads. Any one know if he's any use & worth swapping babel with cash? If the rumour has any truth in it that is.
This lad could be a top player, he has been quoted as saying he wants to come to us and has told Galatasary he's leaving in the summer i believe, he was outstanding in euro 2008, if dossena and Babel sales got us Turan I'd be a happy bunny.
Babel out Turan in potentially could be a great bit of business. I remember Turan from the European Championships in 2008 and looked a decent player then.
Think i'll youtube him so. Maybe i heard wrong but did rafa say no more activity this month after Maxi though? I could be wrong. Remember Turkey having a great 2008 championship so if this lad was involved in that he must be decent.
This could potentially be a very good signing if true, but I would treat it with a pinch of salt at the minute. Arda was Turkeys outstanding player from Euro 2008 if memory serves me right, he is a Turkish national hero and a club captain all at the age of just 22.
If we could get Turan for Babel and a couple of million it would be a great deal but I doubt it will happen. I'd say Babel being left out of the squad is Rafa's way of telling him "move on now if you want a chance of playing in the world cup". The stories that Rafa can now spend the proceeds of the Babel sale could well be true now though as it seemed last week he didn't want to ship him out (probably as he thought he wouldn't be able to reinvest) but now it seems he may have played his last game for us
This boy has talent and is a class act..Hes the next big thing to come out of Turkey.. Would gladly drag Babel to Turkey to do the swap..
Grand thats two off us then, one leg each and we'll drag the cnut to turkey and do the swap...He can tell his buddies on twitter that he wont be in the sqaud again either..
remember its the turkish league 7 goals in 27 aint that great im sure kewell himself has a better record in turkey?
ill be honest, i dont play championship manager or Pro evo, so my knowledge of young european players isnt too great but id even take me over Babel at this stage, at least id try, and never complain about being dropped has anybody HONESTLY seen Turan play recently?
i've seen him at the world cup, eurosand and in the leagie, he's quaility,. imo anyway,. records dont speak for much anyway,. look at kuyt, kezman torres etc,.