Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan 'in talks' over move to Turkish league leaders Basaksehir

Midfielder has not featured for the Primera Liga leaders this season and looks set for a return to his home country.

Arda Turan has struggled to hold down a first team place at Barcelona since moving to the club in July 2015. Alejandro Garcia / EPA

Turkish midfielder Arda Turan is in talks over a return home with Basaksehir after a frustrating two-and-a-half years at Barcelona.

Turan, 30, signed for Barca from Atletico Madrid in July 2015 for a reported €34 million (Dh149m), but had to wait until January 2016 to make his debut due to the club's transfer ban. Since then, however, Turan has made just 53 appearances in all competitions and is yet to feature this season.

Turkish media are reporting that Barcelona will continue to pay half of Turan's salary, although Basaksehir chairman, Goksel Gumusdag, revealed there are still a few issues to iron out.

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"Although we have agreed in principle on many issues, there are still some steps to be taken," Gumusdag said. "My team is in talks with the player's agent and Barcelona club officials.

"I hope they will come back with a positive result."

Basaksehir are currently top of the Turkish Super Lig table and lead Istanbul rivals Galatasaray by one point. Barcelona, meanwhile, are also top of their league table, leading the Primera Liga by nine points over Turan's former club Atletico.