The wheels are in motion, if you believe what you read. A German reporter tells a Manchester United fan podcast that Hakan Calhanoglu’s rumoured transfer to the club ‘will happen’ next summer.
However, we don’t really buy the Hakan Calhanoglu links to Manchester United.
The AC Milan playmaker is not a player United need, unless the club decide to sell Paul Pogba in the summer which I would still argue should see the club prioritise a holding midfielder if anything.
I’m not saying other players aren’t needed because that would be stupid, but why would United monitor Calhanoglu if they’ve recently signed Donny van de Beek and he hasn’t had a consistent run in the side yet.
In Spain there are reports that United will be discussing new terms with Juan Mata also, as reported via Todofichajes.
I just can’t understand why Calhanoglu would be a target for United other than the fact he could be signed on a free transfer. Of course he’d be a nice addition but the team is pretty stocked in central midfield as it is.
According to Bild’s Christian Falk, who claims United are already in advanced talks with his agent of a potential deal, Calhanoglu is ‘very, very likely’ to join the Red Devils next summer.
Milan are currently top of the pile in Serie A so his focus should be on the season ahead, but I do suspect his agent or whoever is speaking to the media are responsible for building media interest around the Turkey international.
I’m sure Milan would like to tie the attacking midfielder down to a new deal, but is it a matter of Calhanoglu — or is entourage — pushing for a move?
Calhanoglu is free to speak with other clubs in January when he enters the final six months of his current contract.
Falk claims United are in pole position to sign the Milan star.
He told the Stretford Paddock Podcast: “It’s true and I think this will happen because last summer there was already talks with his agent.
“I don’t know if you know but Juventus would have also have liked him last summer but he said ‘no’.
“He said no because he already knew what would happen this summer with United.
“Talks are already very, very far at the moment and he’ll be a free agent, so this transfer is very, very likely.”
That sounds more promising I guess, that Calhanoglu will be a free agent but that will have an impact on his demands too. Falk added that the Turkey international needs to be surrounded by quality in order to flourish and suggested that Paul Pogba could help bring the best from him.
“He can be a good player if everything around him is working, then he can help United,” he said.
“He’s not the kind of player that if something went wrong he’d say ‘now we have to fight’.
“He’s a technical player, perhaps it is Pogba to show him the way. Then I feel like he could do it at United.”
I’d be focusing on Bruno Fernandes more, no?
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