Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and could offer €18 million for the 28-year-old.
According to Inter Live, Manchester United are considering making a play to sign Inter Milan playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu in the summer transfer window later this year.
Calhanoglu joined Inter Milan only last summer, completing a free transfer after his contract with local rivals AC Milan had run out. The 28-year-old has made a decent start to life with the Nerazzurri, becoming a mainstay in the centre of the park alongside Nicolo Barella and Marcelo Brozovic.
Calhanoglu has already featured 31 times across all competitions for Simone Inzaghi’s side this term, scoring six goals and setting up nine more. While his contract with the reigning Serie A champions runs until 2024, it has not stopped clubs from casting admiring glances towards him ahead of the summer window, with Manchester United seemingly interested.
Manchester United had been linked with a move for Calhanoglu last summer when he was available on a free transfer. While he ended up signing for Inter Milan, but the report claims that the Red Devils are now set to rekindle their interest in the 28-year-old Turkish international.
?? #ManUtd are interested in Hakan #Calhanoglu: the ??????? club has asked #Inter for info.
? The ?? player is very appreciated by #Rangnick. ?⚽#Calciomercato #Transfers #EPL #MUFC pic.twitter.com/TWeF9roLnG
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) February 25, 2022
Although have a top creative midfielder in Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United could be preparing for life without Paul Pogba, whose contract will expire at the end of the season. A renewal looks like a distant possibility, with reports indicating that the Frenchman has his heart set on returning to Juventus.
So a new midfielder with creative prowess and the ability to score goals from the centre of the park would become a necessity for the 20-time English champions come summer. A move for Leicester City contract rebel Youri Tielemans has been mooted heavily, but it seems like Manchester United are keeping their options open, with Calhanoglu emerging as an alternative.
While he would not exactly be a like-for-like replacement for Pogba, the Inter Milan star would add a lot of value with his chance-creation and set-piece prowess. The report states that interim boss Ralf Rangnick, who will be moving into a consultancy role at the end of the season, is behind United’s interest in Calhanoglu, having watched him closely during the playmaker’s time in Germany.
It is further claimed that Manchester United would be open to offering a fee of around €18-20 million to sign the Turkish midfielder in the summer. However, Inter Milan are under no pressure to sell Calhanoglu and will not entertain any offers below the €30 million mark.
United need a defensive midfielder to play alongside McTominay (who has played better with Matic beside him). A second box-2-box midfielder to compete with McTominay would be ideal, although James Garner May be offered a chance in that role next season.
They have Fernandes, Fred and Van De Beek (with Hannibal Mejbri a youthful option).
Pogba has been a square peg in a round hole since the purchase of Fernandes (and was not the player Fernandes is, when United spent mega money on in in Mourinho’s time).
Calhanoglu is not required