5 clubs that can use Arda Turan in the first half of the 2015/16 season

The signing of Arda Turan from Atletico Madrid is starting to present hitherto unforeseen problems for FC Barcelona. In the wake of the transfer ban, which disallows the Blaugrana from fielding any new signings till January 2016, the management at the Catalan club have a dilemma as to what the best plan of action would be for the Turkish international for the next six months.Manager Luis Enrique is adamant that this time will be most well-spent by acclimatizing with the atmosphere at Barcelona. Clearly, ‘Lucho’ wants to ensure Turan develops both a fruitful relationship with his new teammates as well as his own niche in the squad, which would help him fit seamlessly into the side come January.But for this to happen, Turan will first and foremost need to be in top physical condition when he is called for. To expect even a seasoned campaigner like Turan to start playing at the highest level after a 6-month break is asking too much.Needless to say, the Turkish magician needs match practice, and here lies an opportunity for Europa League and mid-table sides to make use of a gifted player.Here’s a look at 5 clubs that could make hay while the sun of Arda Turan shines.

#1 Liverpool

Liverpool’s first seven away fixtures of the season read - Stoke City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City. The Reds definitely need to hit the ground running to harbour any hopes of making it to the top four.

In such a scenario, manager Brendan Rodgers would be naive to pass up an opportunity to have Arda Turan in the squad. Turan is an upgrade on both James Milner and skipper Jordan Henderson in central midfield, matching them in endeavour and work rate, but easily surpassing them in skill and creativity.

Moreover, Rodgers’ squad consists of a number of young midfielders like Firmino, Emre Can, Lallana and Coutinho. Having an experienced head like Turan in these testing times will take considerable pressure of their shoulders and aid their technical and mental development in the long run.

Turan’s presence will, therefore, bring creativity and confidence to a young Liverpool side which, although promising, looks unstable and mentally fragile. To help matters, Rodgers’ brand of maintaining possession and playing attacking football will sit well with the Barcelona management. Further, Turan’s affinity for Liverpool could be an aiding factor in the short-term loan deal.

In a potential make-or-break season, the availability of Arda Turan is a godsend for Brendan Rodgers.

#2 Galatasaray

Before Arda Turan made his name in European football as an Atletico Madrid midfielder, he had established a hero-status at Galatasaray. The Turkish playmaker came through the Gala youth ranks and, within a three-year period from 2006 to 2009, went from breaking into the first team to becoming captain of the Cimbom.

The peculiar nature of his transfer offers Turan a chance to go back to his childhood club, even if for a brief period of six months. It also offers him extended time to stay in his native country, a rarity in modern football.

The move to Galatasaray, however, offers more than emotional reunions. Fateh Terim, manager of the Turkey National Team, has voiced his apprehensions over Turan not getting playing time until January, saying it might hurt their chances to qualify for Euro 2016.

Playing with Galatasaray will, therefore, offer a two-fold advantage - not only will Turan receive playing time, but he will also get to link up with his international teammates, a sizeable number of whom play for the Istanbul-based club.

In a tough situation, where the national team coach wants his star man to play and a loan move to any other club might be disapproved of by the Barcelona management, this might just be the compromise in the best interests of everyone, especially Arda Turan.

The one hitch, though, is that Galatasaray have qualified for Champions League football, so if Turan does go there, the club may be asked to not play him in Champions League games.

#3 Everton

Everton have a well-established relationship with Barcelona, having brought Barcelona B winger Gerard Deulofeu on loan in 2013, before buying him outright this year. The availability of Turan presents an opportunity to acquire a player the Toffees would normally be in no position to attract.

Having a player of the class and ability of Turan in his ranks will certainly help manager Roberto Martinez make a strong start to the season and push for a Europa League finish. Moreover, the experience of playing with the Turk will only help young midfielders like James McCarthy and Ross Barkley, who will also sleep safe in the knowledge that Turan is not here to usurp their place for good.

Loaning out to Everton will suit Barcelona too, since Martinez has always preferred to play a possession-based brand of football since his Swansea days, similar to the Blaugrana. The physical nature of the Premier League wouldn’t be a problem, not when Turan has been playing under Diego ‘Cholo’ Simeone for the last 4 years anyway!

All in all, a win-win situation for all three parties, and a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Toffees fans to witness a truly special player.

#4 Villarreal

The ‘Yellow Submarine’ has had a tumultuous transfer window so far - the loss of Luciano Vietto, Giovani dos Santos, Uche and Cani has left the team bereft of creativity and goals. While the addition of Samu Castillejo and Samuel Garcia adds attacking impetus on the wings and bringing Leo Baptistao on loan provides options upfront, Villarreal may need more playmaking from central midfield. For this, they need not look any further than Barcelona and Arda Turan.

Villarreal manager Marcelino used a 4-2-2-2 formation last season. The lack of strikers and the presence of wingers may lead to a switch to 4-3-3 with an extra man in midfield- this is where Turan comes into the picture. Turan has the experience of playing on the right side of midfield and possesses the defensive nous to feature in a double-pivot as well, in case the Villarreal boss decides to stay with his earlier formation.

Bringing in Turan is going to be a temporary solution, but it will also be a reliable one till Marcellino decides on more permanent recruitments. Barcelona shouldn’t mind as well - Turan remains in Spain, will not be playing for direct rivals and will be in good shape to start in January.

There is, of course, the added possibility of letting Villarreal with Turan beat the likes of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, thus helping the Cules indirectly clinch successive La Liga titles.

#5 Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs have offloaded three central midfielders since the start of the transfer window, namely, Paulinho, Etienne Capoue and Lewis Holtby. Their midfield now boasts of a grand total of six players, only one of them above the age of 25 (Moussa Dembele).

Mauricio Pochettino played a 4-2-3-1 formation last season, but a double pivot of Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb is nowhere close to ideal for a club aiming for a top-four finish. The lack of a creator aside from Christian Eriksen further emphasizes the need for someone like Arda Turan to bolster the midfield ranks of the North London club.

The presence of Turan will go some way in lightening the burden of creating goals for Eriksen, who in turn will be able to play freely and showcase his true elusive self. Furthermore, the Turkish playmaker will provide an ideal role-model for young midfielders like Mason and Tom Carroll, of whom the latter is an exciting prospect in the deep-lying creative midfielder role.

Fair to say, then, that Pochettino requires a player of Turan’s pedigree to prevent the Spurs from stagnating in the short-term as well as long-term and having him for even six months might be enough to spark a revival.