Chelsea
Chelsea Steal March On Man Utd After Tabling Bid For International Midfielder
Chelsea have stolen a march on Manchester United after tabling a bid to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu this month, according to reports
Managers are now making moves to try and strengthen their squads during the January transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip from around the globe. Today, Chelsea are linked with Hakan Calhanoglu…
Chelsea have stolen a march on Manchester United after tabling a bid to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu this month, according to a report in the Express.
The Blues are currently sitting five points clear at the top of the Premier League and well on course to reclaiming the title despite seeing their 13-match winning streak come to an end at Tottenham last week.
However, despite their dominant position in the league, it looks like Antonio Conte is still hoping to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window and it appears the Italian coach wants to bring in another option in the attacking midfield department.
That would make sense considering Chelsea recently sold Oscar to Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG for £60million and it looks as though Conte has identified Calhanoglu as a potential replacement for the Brazilian.
That’s because the Express are citing reports coming from Turkey that claim a source close to the player has confirmed that Chelsea have submitted a formal offer to Leverkusen for his signature.
Calhanoglu has been in impressive form since joining Leverkusen from Hamburg in 2014 and it’s led to interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs with the Express claiming that Manchester United and Barcelona have joined Chelsea in scouting the attacker in recent months.
It seems like the west Londoners have now stolen a march on their rivals, however, a deal is still far from complete and Chelsea will be concerned by recent comments from Calhanoglu where he admitted he’d find it difficult to reject the likes of United or Barca if they came calling.
The 22-year-old is quoted as saying by the Express:
“Barcelona and Manchester United are huge clubs, it would be difficult to turn them down.
“But I have not said anything about any transfers or anything of the sort.”
We’ll have to wait and see whether United decide to step-up their interest in the Turkish international in light of this reported bid from Chelsea – although the Express doesn’t disclose exactly how much the league leaders have supposedly put on the table.
READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news | Man Utd transfer news
However, it’s likely to take a substantial offer to persuade Leverkusen to cash in as Calhanoglu’s contract doesn’t expire until 2019 and they’ll be keen to keep hold of him with a huge Champions League double-header with Atletico Madrid on the horizon.
