In a recent report, The Atheltic (subscription required) has stated that Manchester United have decided not to pursue a move for AC Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu. It is understood that the Turkish playmaker’s agent called Man United’s chief negotiator Matt Judge to discuss a potential transfer for his client, but the Red Devils chose not to entertain the matter (via The Atheltic).
Calhanoglu’s Incredible Start To This Serie A Campaign
The 26-year-old has made a vibrant start to this campaign after putting in a run of eye-catching performances as the primary playmaker of Stefano Pioli’s first XI. The Mannheim-born midfield ace has already registered four goals and four assists in nine appearances for the San Siro-outfit this term across all fronts.
Calhanoglu deserves a lot of plaudits for his attacking contributions as he is averaging 2.0 shots, 2.5 key passes, 1.8 crosses and 0.7 dribbles per game in the Serie A. He has also been quite tidy with his ball-distribution as evidenced by his pass success rate of 85.3% in the top tier of Italian football (stats via whoscored).
The 50-time Turkish international’s current deal with the Milan outfit runs out at the end of this campaign. Therefore, it is only logical for the player to seek a new club if he is looking for a fresh challenge outside Italy. However, it seems like Man United won’t be in the running for his signature which is a surprise considering the lack of creativity from their midfield department in the recent 1-0 loss against Arsenal in the Premier League.
What Does The Turkish International Bring To The Table?
Calhanoglu is one of the best passers in the Serie A, which explains how he can create goal-scoring chances with such consistency from midfield. He has a wide range of passes in his locker and can pick out a killer through-ball in the final third.
The Turkish talent tends to pack a lot of power and precision with his strikes from long range. However, he needs to work a bit harder to help his teammates out at the back when the opposition teams are on the offensive.
Did Man United Make The Right Call By Deciding Not To Pursue A Deal For Calhanoglu?
At the moment, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has got Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes and Juan Mata as his attacking midfielders at Old Trafford. Therefore, the Red Devils would have benefitted from recruiting someone of Calhanoglu’s quality on the cheap in the future as he could have been a terrific long-term replacement for Juan Mata, who is edging closer towards the end of his playing career.
With all things considered, it feels like the Mancunian outfit has made the wrong call by opting not to sign the AC Milan star whose contract is nearing its end. He will be a real steal for any club that manages to land him on a free transfer at the end of this campaign.
