Turan hint provides hope for the Magpies

3:05am Wednesday 25th June 2008

NEWCASTLE UNITED are pinning their hopes on Arda Turan's claims that he dreams of playing in England or Spain, after learning Juventus have made a move for his services.

One of the biggest clubs in European football, fresh from qualifying for the Champions League, have firmed up their interest in the Galatasaray playmaker.

Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri has instructed club officials to contact the Turkish outfit to broker a deal for Arda.

And sources in Italy claim Juventus are trying to avoid meeting Galatasaray's growing valuation - currently standing at around £14m - by offering two players as make-weights.

Defender Jonathan Zebina, a one time Newcaste target, and midfielder Sergio Almiron are the players involved, although Galatasaray are known to prefer a straight cash deal to help ease crippling financial debts.

But Juventus' interest is a further indication that Newcastle are going to find it hard to win the race for another of their top targets.

Having already missed out on Luka Modric to Tottenham, and seemingly destined to lose out to a team in Spain for Andrei Arshavin, United are getting to the stage where they could do with landing a midfield target soon.

Arda, who has scored two goals in helping Turkey to the semi-finals of the European Championships but misses tomorrow's tie with Spain through suspension, is certainly one of those.

And the Magpies are likely to regret not meeting the £8m valuation put on him prior to the tournament starting.

But at least Newcastle will be heartened by the fact the 21-year-old has outlined a desire to play his football away from Turkey, but not in Italy.

He is acutely aware that numerous Turkish internationals have struggled to adapt to life in Serie A in recent years, starting with the way Hakan Sukur never really settled when he moved from Galatasaray to Inter Milan.

But he does accept that adulation for the way he plays will grow in Turkey if he is playing well in the Premier League or La Liga.

"I would like to play in either England or Spain," said Arda. "Okan, Emre and Arif Erdem are admired by everyone in Turkey for what they have done in Europe."

Ideally Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan would like to name Arda and England Under-21 winger James Milner in the same team, despite interest in him from Liverpool.

Milner is keen on a move to Anfield, but Keegan will do everything he can to retain a player who is valued at £9m.

He is under contract until 2011 and Newcastle are thought to be unwilling to do business with Liverpool, who hoped to offer Jermaine Pennant and Danny Guthrie in part-exchange. Aston Villa are also interested in Milner.

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