Bruce Arena has confirmed that midfielder Nigel de Jong is almost set to leave the club, as LA Galaxy have given him permission to talk with Turkish outfit Galatasaray.

De Jong has been one of the most criticised players in the MLS since his move from AC Milan. The Dutch midfielder may come from a country renowned for playing beautiful and attractive football, but he has a reputation for creating very poor tackles that often result in being injuries to the opposition. After having received quite a number of red and yellow cards in his LA Galaxy career already, it is fair to say that he is not a favourite amongst MLS fans.

De Jong will forever be remembered for his tackle on Xabi Alonso in the World Cup 2010 final, but this horrific challenge does not seem to have put off Galatasaray in the pursuit of the player.De Jong may have played only 18 matches for LA Galaxy since joining the club during the off-season, but he has had a lasting impression on many of the MLS players. Bruce Arena confirmed that the midfielder is currently in talks with the Turkish outfit, but he claimed that there was no confirmation about the move yet.

“Nigel is pursuing an opportunity with our blessing. It either happens or it doesn’t. We have the greatest respect for Nigel. He’s been a terrific addition to our team. He’s a great professional and a great teammate. When healthy and given a chance to play in this league, he’s been good. His game against Vancouver was exceptional. Nigel’s a very good player. We don’t have an educated public to understand what he does, but he’s been an important member of our team. If we lose him, then we use our depth,” said Bruce Arena.