Major twist in Manchester United’s chase for Calhanoglu

There have been conflicting reports surrounding Manchester United’s chase for the creative midfielder who could be available for free in the summer.

A compelling run of results in the Premier League followed by an ill-fated defeat in the Champions League against PSG to several uncertain futures surrounding the club, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has more than enough things to ponder upon. While the results on the pitch are variable and utterly inconsistent, a host of players’ contracts are running out at the moment.

Players such as Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard have already entered the last 12 months on their contract. Though, United have an option to trigger an addition year in both cases; and as far as  reports in the Daily Star are concerned, they would do that to keep their market value guarded.

Manchester United were reportedly keeping tabs on AC Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu, whose contract at Milan is also set to expire in June 2021. He was thought to be an upgrade over the likes of Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard. However, recent reports have splashed cold water on those previous claims.

According to Stretty News, United are nowhere near signing the former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker in the next summer transfer window. Bild journalist Christian Falk (via Sempre Milan) though had claimed earlier that Manchester United had a ‘90% chance’ of signing the Turkish international a fortnight back.

More from Manchester United News

• Aaron Wan Bissaka out for ‘several weeks’ with injury
• Sofyan Amrabat set to miss game against Brighton
• Preview: Manchester United vs Brighton – What you need to know
• Jadon Sancho set to train away from first team squad
• Mike Phelan blasts Manchester United teammates over Ronaldo exit

Other sources had also backed his claims, suggesting that the board had started negotiating terms with the player’s entourage. Yet, the fresh reports have led us to a new turn in an unique saga, where the linked player is going to be a free agent in the upcoming summer.

Calhanoglu has already bagged 15 appearances across all competitions this season, providing 5 goals and 4 assists for AC Milan. He seems to be an integral part of Stefano Pioli’s Milan side that are currently atop of the Serie A and have a five point lead over their city rivals Inter, who sit at second.

They haven’t lost a game in the Italian top division so far and are looking favourites to topple Juventus’ years of dominance over the Scudetto.

As the report from Stretty news reveals, AC Milan are considering offering Calhanoglu a new and an improved contract at San Siro. And these United-Calhanoglu rumours could be a decoy to escalate the process and make the job easy for the player’s agent to earn him a new contract from the Italian side.