Chelsea are reportedly set to trigger the €38 million release clause in Bayer Leverkusen attacker Hakan Calhanoglu’s contract
Turkish outlet Ajansspor have reported that Chelsea are ready to make a swoop for Hakan Calhanoglu in the summer by triggering the €38 million release clause in his contract with Bayer Leverkusen. A three-year deal is said to be on offer from the Premier League heavyweights.
23-year-old Calhanoglu is one of the most promising young talents to have emerged out of Turkey in recent years, and he has set the Bundesliga alight with his explosive performances in attack in the last four seasons.
Having enjoyed a stellar maiden season in the German top flight with HSV Hamburg, Calhanoglu made the move to Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, and has not looked back since. The Turkish international has established himself as a key figure at the BayArena, making a mark with his precise passing and tremendous free-kick taking abilities.
2016/17 was turning out to be a promising season for Calhanoglu, as he bagged seven goals and as many assists in 22 appearances for Bayer in all competitions, before he was suspended from playing domestic and international football for four months by FIFA for contractual issues earlier in his career.
Nevertheless, he is a player whose abilities are not in any doubt, and as a result, several clubs have shown an interest in signing him in recent months. Of these, Chelsea’s interest in securing his services is well documented, with the Blues monitoring the Turk’s progress for some time now.
Now, as per the report, the Blues are ready to make a concrete offer for Calhanoglu by triggering the €38 million release clause in his contract with Bayer. In addition to that, Chelsea are putting a three-year deal on the table for the 23-year-old.
This comes in the wake of Calhanoglu’s agent, Bektas Demirtas leaving the door open for his client’s exit from Bayer in the summer.
He said: “Hakan will be [under contract] at Leverkusen for three years. If an offer comes along that is fine for Bayer and which also fits with Hakan, we will do a transfer. But the final decision lies with the club.”
It has been widely Antonio Conte is eager to bolster several positions across the park in the summer as Chelsea look set to compete on four fronts next season, with attack also being given top priority. Their chase for a top attacking talent has now led them to the Turkish international, and a move is closer than ever.
Conte has just Eden Hazard, Willian and Pedro to choose from for his wide positions. Calhanoglu will not only offer an addition top class option for the Chelsea boss to consider, should he move to Stamford Bridge, but bring unparalleled dead ball abilities to SW6 as well.
The move now looks to be closer than ever, and if the report indeed turns out to be true, Chelsea will have acquired an exciting, long-term attacking option in the summer.
