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Barcelona have emerged as frontrunners to sign coveted midfielder Arda Turan from Atletico Madrid, according to reports. Arda, 28, is a top priority for Barca coach Luis Enrique after his side's Treble-winning 2014-15 campaign, report a number of Spanish media outlets. The Turkey international, who has been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea, has reiterated his desire to leave Atletico this summer but few expected him to remain in La Liga next season. Barcelona-based sports newspaper El Mundo Deportivo reports that Arda's move to Barca is a done deal, although AS reported that the player would not sign a five-year deal until after Barcelona's presidential elections are completed on July 18. Marca reports that the deal may not be completed until next week, but say that Barca will pay Atletico €35 million to sign Arda -- €6m less than the fee set on his buyout clause. Arda has two years left on his contract with Atletico, whom he joined in the summer of 2011 from Galatasaray for €12m. A key player for Atletico coach Diego Simeone, Arda was pivotal in helping the Rojiblancos lift the Copa del Rey three years ago and the Primera Division title in the 2013-14 campaign. Arda scored two goals and set up four more in 32 La Liga appearances as Atletico finished third in the Primera Division last season. However, the player requested that his agent listen to offers with his aim to leave the Madrid outfit this summer. Arda recently denied media reports that he was on the verge of joining Manchester United, with his agent saying: "Arda has not met with United." Should Arda's transfer materialise, he would become Barca's second summer signing after the arrival of Spanish defender Aleix Vidal from Sevilla last month. Arda, like Vidal, would not be able to play an official game for Barcelona until January 2016 due to a transfer ban imposed by FIFA on the club for breaching rules on the transfer of under-age players. Since the end of the season, Atletico have sold Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic to Juventus and Brazilian defender Joao Miranda to Inter.
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