West Ham United reportedly want to sign Hakan Calhanoglu from Serie A giants AC Milan.
It is almost two-and-a-half years since Dimitri Payet slithered away from West Ham United, destroying his legacy at the London Stadium by forcing through a return to France with Marseille.
But, given the opportunity, most Hammers fans would secretly love to put their animosity aside and bring Payet back to the capital. After all, the Frenchman is arguably the most naturally talented player to wear the claret and blue shirt since the days of Paulo di Canio with his trademark free-kicks still fresh in the memory.
That isn’t going to happen, however. But perhaps Hakan Calhanoglu could be the next best thing.
According to Fanatik, AC Milan have put the Turkey international up for sale for £26 million with West Ham battling Leicester City for his signature. And though Calhanoglu struggled to show his best form in two years in Italy, superb spells at Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen suggest he’d be an outstanding addition if he gets back to his best.
Calhanoglu is perhaps best known for his outstanding set-pieces. He even fired home a famous 50 yard free-kick against Borussia Dortmund back in 2014, just one of many dead balls he fired into the top corner.
West Ham have not had a player capable of producing something out of nothing from a free-kick since the heady days of Payet. So Calhanoglu could bring a sprinkling of theatre back to the London Stadium.
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