Arsenal beating Inter Milan and Chinese outfits in race to sign Barcelona outcast Arda Turan

Arsenal are understood to be the most likely candidates to sign Barcelona outcast Arda Turan in the upcoming summer transfer window. Inter Milan and a number of Chinese clubs have also been linked with the Turkish star in recent weeks, but Mundo Deportivo says "sources close to the player believe a move to the Premier League is more possible".

Turan, 30, moved to the Nou Camp in the summer of 2015 after Barcelona agreed to pay €34m (£28.6m, $37m) plus add-ons to lure him away from Atletico Madrid.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United were all said to be keen on the player, but he opted to join Barcelona instead – despite being unable to play for them until January 2016 due to a Fifa transfer embargo.

The former Atletico ace has scored 13 goals for Barcelona this season, but his playing time has been restricted in recent months.

He had been linked with a move to China in recent transfer windows, and in March The Times reported Arsenal were planning a £25m swoop ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.

Reports in Italy recently suggested Inter Milan held an interest in the player as well, with officials from the San Siro outfit meeting with his agent to discuss a summer move.

But Mundo Deportivo says that Arsenal remain favourites to secure his services.

The Spanish publication says both China and Inter are still options but sources close to Turan feel England is a more likely destination.

Mundo Deportivo says Turan turned down a lucrative €18m-a-year proposal to move to the Far East during the January transfer window.

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique was also was unlikely to let him go in the middle of the season, but the Spanish publication claims that the club are now ready to part ways with him in the summer in order to recoup a part of the €34m they paid to Atletico to sign him in 2015. An offer worth around €25m (£21.1m) could be enough for Arsenal to lure him to the Emirates Stadium.

Meanwhile, it looks like the La Liga giants are preparing for life without Turan as Mundo Deportivo adds they are already considering replacements, including Angel Di Maria, Marco Reus, Bernardo Silva and Vitolo.