American top-flight side Columbus Crew have implied that they will benefit from the transfer of Harrison Afful if he moves to Turkish side next month.

The Ghana international is on the verge on leaving American top-flight side Columbus Crew to join Turkish side Mersin Idmanyurdu in a bumper cash deal after just one season at the MLS club.

The 29-year-old is expected to travel to Turkey this week to seal the free transfer deal that will see him triple the wages he earned at MLS side Columbus Crew.

This comes after his one-year contract with the MLS side expired with Columbus Crew keen on extending his contract but he has opted to consider the massive cash deal from Turkey.

However, Columbus Crew insists they still have an existing contract with Afful which means he will not go on a free transfer if he manages to seal the switch.

"Harrison Afful remains under contract with Columbus Crew SC," a Columbus Crew spokesman said on Monday when reacting to news of Afful being in talks with with the Turkish side.

Insiders have told Ghana's leading football news outfit that the talented right-back and his agents started talks over the bumper cash deal since last week.

Afful and his representatives have been holding talks with the player while he is on holidays in his home country of Ghana and he is expected to travel to Turkey to complete a medical before sealing the deal.

The defender's departure from Columbus Crew will be a huge blow for the MLS Cup finalists as the right-back made a huge impact since joining them.

He helped the USA-based Columbus Crew to reach the final of the MLS Cup but they were defeated by Adam Kwarasey's Portland Timbers.