According to CBS Sports journalist James Benge, Arsenal are in the market for Hakan Calhanoglu. The Gunners are keen on securing the services of a new playmaker, but with Emiliano Buendia joining Aston Villa and Martin Odegaard likely to cost a fortune, they have set their sights on the AC Milan playmaker, who is expected to leave the Rossoneri for free in the summer.
Hakan Calhanoglu’s Success At AC Milan
Hakan Calhanoglu has enjoyed stellar success in Milan, following his €23 million move in 2017. He has consistently performed at a higher level in Italy, having already notched up 172 competitive appearances for the Rossoneri.
The Turkish international has thrived especially under the leadership of Stefano Pioli. The playmaker started his spell under the Italian, with 17 goals involvements in just 28 league matches last season, helping Milan earn a respectable finish after a disastrous start to the campaign.
Calhanoglu upped his game even more in the 2020/21 campaign, becoming Milan’s creator-in-chief. Indeed, the former Bayer Leverkusen starlet registered ten assists while scoring four goals. His contributions in the final third were key in helping his team secure the Champions League football after a long time.
That said, Calhanoglu’s contract at San Siro expires at the end of June, meaning he will be available as a free agent in the summer. Although nothing has been confirmed regarding his future, he is indeed an exciting prospect in the market at the moment.
Should Arsenal Invest In Calhanoglu?
As mentioned earlier, Arsenal are in the market for a new playmaker, as Martin Odegaard returns to Santiago Bernabeu following the end of his loan spell. The Norwegian was largely successful at Emirates, though an injury-marred his progress during the final stretch of the campaign.
Odegaard, though, is set to cost a fortune, which makes Calhanoglu an ideal option for Arsenal. The Milan playmaker has gathered a vast amount of experience over the years, during his time at Leverkusen and Milan.
As far as his abilities are concerned, the Turkish international is one of the best chance creators in Serie A. He is quite versatile and can play on the flanks as well, while the Turkish international also makes a strong case for being one of the best set-piece takers in Europe.
At Emirates, Calhanoglu is sure to thrive alongside pacy players like Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. And given the talent that he has shown at Milan, a free transfer for the Turkish playmaker could certainly make him one of the bargains of the summer for Arsenal.
