Reported Newcastle United target Hakan Calhanoglu is facing an uncertain future at AC Milan with his agent pointing out that the Turkey international will become a free agent in 12 months’ time, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb.
When a fresh-faced midfielder channelled his inner David Beckham with a 50-yard wondergoal during Hamburg’s 3-0 thrashing of Borussia Dortmund in 2014, it felt like only a matter of time before Calhanoglu was joining Luka Modric, Thiago and co as one of the elite playmakers of world football.
Six years on, however, it is impossible not to feel a little underwhelmed by how the set-piece specialists’ career has turned out.
Like so many of the players who joined Milan during that stunning summer of 2017, the £23 million Calhanoglu has struggled to live up to lofty expectations at the San Siro.
In 118 games, he has scored just 17 goals – the same amount he produced in 55 matches at Hamburg.
The Chronicle reports that a potentially nouveau-riche Newcastle side will offer Calhanoglu a fresh start in England if that much-discussed takeover is finally given the green light.
So an honest and open interview with Calhanoglu’s agent this week should make for interesting reading on Tyneside.
“Everyone knows that his contract is due to expire in 2021. I haven’t talked to Milan yet,” Gordon Stipic says.
“Hakan is happy at Milan, he is proud to wear the number ten, he feels everyone’s confidence in such a glorious club and this is important. However, there are also individual ambitions.
“His goal is to play in the Champions League. I don’t hide it.
“What will happen? I don’t know, it’s early to say. We have our ambitions, of course, and it’s playing in the Champions League.”
Mixed news, then, for Newcastle fans.
Calhanoglu appears to be open to offers this summer but, until the Magpies are competing once again at Europe’s top table, players of this ilk might just be out of their reach.
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