Inter Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates after the match
Leeds United have reportedly expressed an interest in Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.
The Lowdown: Calhanoglu profiled
The 29-year-old is primarily a central midfielder who can also line out as a holding or attacking midfielder if required.
The Turkey international holds a career-high €35m (£30.8m) Transfermarkt valuation and is out of contract in 2024. Captain of his national team, Calhanoglu has been plying his trade in Italy since 2017 and also has experience in the Bundesliga with Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen.
The Latest: Leeds interested in Calhanoglu
MOT Leeds News relayed an update from one Spanish outlet in the last 48 hours regarding Calhanoglu.
They claimed that Leeds, and by extension Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises, have expressed an interest in the Turkish maestro along with Premier League relegation rivals Southampton. However, Inter see him as an important player and have set a €25m (£22m) price tag.
The Verdict: Shrewd target?
Leeds will need to remain in the Premier League to have any realistic chance of signing Calhanoglu, and if they do, he could be an extremely shrewd addition.
He has plenty of experience at the highest level for club (almost 500 appearances) and country (74 caps), contributing to 20 Serie A goals in 34 games last season.
Calhanoglu has been Inter’s second-best performer during the current campaign with an average match rating of 7.07/10 from WhoScored – a better rating than any Leeds player.
The versatile player has been called ‘absolutely sensational‘ for his passing range by members of the media, and his experience could be beneficial at Elland Road alongside the likes of Marc Roca, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie.
About the Author
