According to ChronicleLive’s Q&A, conducted by the publication’s chief Newcastle United writer Lee Ryder, the Magpies have been credited with an interest in the services of AC Milan’s experienced midfield maestro Hakan Çalhanoğlu. The report claims that Steve Bruce’s Tyneside club have ‘looked at Çalhanoğlu extensively this season’ and that they’ve also had eyes on players from across the top European leagues.
It has been suggested that the scouting team at St.James’ Park have been instructed to identify a winger and a striker to bring in. With that said though, it is claimed in the report that the gaffer is also keen on adding more energy and dynamism in the middle of the park. To that effect, the veteran Premier League manager seems to believe that Çalhanoğlu would be the ideal acquisition in that area of the pitch.
What Makes Hakan Çalhanoğlu Such An Exciting Prospect For Newcastle?
Despite being born in Germany, the midfielder chose to stay loyal to his roots and is a full international for Turkey, with just under 50 caps to his name. Although the talented Turk started his career at lower league German clubs, it was at Bayer Leverkusen that he eventually got his real break. After impressing at the BayArena, the set-piece specialist was acquired by AC Milan in the summer of 2017.
Since then, the Turkish midfielder has consistently been one of the first-choice starters for the San Siro outfit, and he’s featured in 116 fixtures for the club, scoring 17 and setting up a further 24 in the process. Even with all this, the most crucial element of his game for Steve Bruce would be his versatility. The former Hamburg man can play anywhere across the midfield, be it as a number ten, a winger, or even as someone protecting the back-line.
Why This Would Be A Major Coup By The Magpies?
The Turk had featured in 23 Serie A games for AC Milan when everything got suspended due to the coronavirus. The 26-year-old has proven over the years that he can be one of the most efficient users of the ball in the middle of the park. His passing and movement in the central areas are off the charts, while the midfielder’s set-piece deliveries are the stuff of European legend. There’s no denying that the AC Milan star would add something new to this Newcastle United squad.
The Magpies have been overly dependent on defenders to score their goals this season, especially considering the terrible form that Brazilian starlet Joelinton seems to be in. Despite the presence of some quality midfielders like Jonjo Shelvey and Issac Hayden, goals from the middle of the park have been hard to come by for the Tyneside outfit. The Toon Army would surely welcome a signing of Çalhanoğlu’s pedigree, but whether Steve Bruce can convince the Turkish international to switch across the English Channel is a whole different matter altogether.
