Barcelona have joined Manchester United and Arsenal in the race for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, according to Talksport.
The Turkish midfielder, who has been likened to Mesut Özil, has been regarded as one of the Bundesliga’s hottest prospects since joining Bayer from Hamburg in the summer of 2014.
Calhanoglu is a versatile player, being able to play across the midfield, either in an advanced role in the centre or as a winger on both flanks.
And the 21-year old has caught the eye of Europe’s top clubs with some scintillating performances at club level, as well as on the international stage, playing a pivotal role in guiding Turkey’s qualification for Euro 2016.
Leverkusen are braced for offers for Calhanoglu, with the Reds and the Gunners keen on bringing the set-piece specialist to the Premier League.
However, Talksport cite reports from Turkey that indicate that Barcelona are keeping tabs on Calhanoglu’s progress. With Barca’s transfer embargo ending in January, the Spanish champions will be looking to bolster their attack, which has been hit by injuries.
Calhanoglu is just over a year into a five-year contract with Leverkusen, and given that he is expected to develop further with further experience in the Bundesliga, his services will not come cheap.
Despite the reported £30 million price tag, it would be an excellent long-term investment for Louis van Gaal. Leverkusen may not be willing to sell in January, but United should come back in for Calhanoglu next summer. He is a versatile and dynamic talent, and could potentially be a world class player.
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