Arsenal to 'offload Cazorla' to Atletico and take Eto'o, Vela

Spanish side want Cazorla as replacement for Man Utd, Liverpool and Barcelona target Arda Turan

Santi Cazorla
(Image credit: David Ramos/Getty Images)

As Atletico Madrid brace themselves for the departure of Arda Turan, the Daily Express claims the Spanish champions have already identified his replacement - Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla. Apparently Atletico are "lining up a £18m bid" for the gifted Gunner and they are confident Arsenal will sell as they are not short of creative midfielders, what with Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere in the squad.

Funds certainly won't be a problem for Atletico with the Express reporting that they expect to make £33m on the sale of Turan, currently being chased by Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona. Though new United boss Louis van Gaal has made no secret of his admiration for the 27-year-old Turan, the Express says Barcelona are in pole position to sign the playmaker although the player's agent has recently "denied any contact with the Catalan club".

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Bill Mann is a football correspondent for The Week.co.uk, scouring the world's football press daily for the popular Transfer Talk column.