Galatasaray boss Igor Tudor expresses desire to sign Barcelona outcast Arda Turan

Galatasary manager Igor Tudor admits he would like to sign Barcelona outcast and reported Arsenal target Arda Turan but says he has not spoken about a potential transfer for the midfielder since the summer.

Turan has never managed to truly establish himself at the Camp Nou since joining from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2014 and has been completely frozen out of the first-team reckoning by new manager Ernesto Valverde, who has led the Blaugrana to a four-point lead over second-placed Valencia at the top of La Liga.

Former Athletic Club boss Valverde has not afforded Turan a minute of action so far this season, rarely even allowing him a place on the substitutes' bench. The 30-year-old's chances of game-time are slim as it is, and they will become even slighter when club-record signing Ousmane Dembele returns to fitness from a nasty hamstring injury that has kept him out since September.

Arsenal have been credited with an interest in Turan, whose contract with Barcelona expires in the summer of 2020. But Galatasary boss Tudor has gone so far as to publicly admit his interest in bringing the midfielder back to where he started his professional career, though he dismissed suggestions that the Turkish giants are already in negotiations with Barcelona, insisting that no talks have taken place since the summer.

"Arda is a great player and one of the most important players in the history of Turkish football," Tudor said to beIN Sports, relayed by Spanish publication Marca. "Yes, I would like him to come to Galatasaray.

"There is a lot of talk about Arda, but since last summer we have not spoken again."

It remains to be seen if Barcelona allow Turan to leave on loan in the January transfer window but they will no doubt be looking to rid themselves of the former Atletico Madrid star, who was reportedly being monitored by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as he seeks midfield reinforcements.

With the future of midfielder Santi Cazorla still unclear, Turan could act as a replacement for the injury-stricken Spaniard who has not played for Arsenal for over a year due to an Achilles injury. But Tudor's public admission seems to suggest that Gala are confident of thrashing out a deal for their former star, who made almost 196 appearances during his six-year spell with the Istanbul outfit.