Hakan Calhanoglu reportedly stated that he was interested in joining Chelsea in the summer, but the Bayer Leverkusen player has now denied the quotes.
Chelsea fans thought they had already sorted a signing for the summer. Reports were doing the rounds last week that Hakan Calhanoglu had stated he was looking to join the Blues at the end of the season. However, the Bayer Leverkusen winger has tweeted that he made no such remarks.
I said nothing about Chelsea in the press & didn't talk to any Turkish journalist - neither about the court decision nor about my future!
— Hakan Çalhanoğlu (@hakanc10) February 6, 2017
The Turkish player is currently banned. FIFA handed him a four month ban after deeming him to be in breach of contract terms. However, he is talented winger who would definitely add more ammunition to Antonio Conte’s armoury.
With Chelsea having a quiet January transfer window, moves will need to be made in the summer. The Blues are cruising at the top of the Premier League, but complacency could see them underachieve in the next campaign.
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While Conte’s men have impressed, their sizeable lead has also been the result of poor performances from their rivals. Chelsea need to restock over the summer to ensure they can handle the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City firing on all cylinders, not to mention the European competition as well.
Several POL writers debated the lack of creativity that the Blues currently suffer from. While Willian and Pedro have been working their socks off, they are nowhere near Eden Hazard on his day. Hazard’s inconsistency, though, means that Chelsea are handicapped frequently.
The addition of Calhanoglu would be a step in the right direction. The winger has an eye for goal, netting seven times this season. Most of his goals come by way of set-pieces, but his ability to pick a pass and set up his teammates is equally impressive.
Calhanoglu’s ban will see him miss the rest of the season. Hence, this may be an ideal time to make a move. According to Sky Sports, Chelsea have been interested in his services in the past, most notably when Jose Mourinho was in his second spell.
At the age of 22, he is unlikely to come cheap, but the fact that he is inactive may enable the Blues to negotiate a slightly better price.
What do you think? Is Calhanoglu worth a chase? Let us know in the comments below!