Young Hakan Calhanoglu is currently plying his trade at Bundesliga outfit Hamburg after only joining them in 2012 from Karlsruher from the lower divisions of German football. He was however immediately loaned out to his former club and was instrumental in helping them achieve promotion into the second division. He is now back at Hamburg in his first season playing for them and has impressed highly.
The midfielder is enjoying a purple patch and has scored 4 goals in 14 games. He has been raking in all the plaudits for his performances. Still only 19 years of age, he is making news across Europe and is finding his way onto the shortlist of several top clubs across the continent. His exploits for Hamburg thus far has also helped him earn his first national team cap with Turkey.
It is no surprise anymore to spot scouts from many clubs in the stands present during Hamburg’s game to see the play maker in action. One of the interested clubs is Arsenal, as reported by the German press. Manager Arsene Wenger has shifted focus to the acquisition of German players in his squad in recent seasons. Starting with the last minute purchase of Per Mertesacker in the summer of 2011, he purchased Lukas Podolski and then Mesut Ozil in consecutive summers to form a strong little German camp at the club.
He is eyeing up a move for Schalke’s Julian Draxler and now has his interest in Hamburg’s Calhanoglu; who is understandably over the moon at learning about Arsenal’s interest in his services. He spoke to the media and ESPNFC reported him as saying, “It is a great honour for me when a club like Arsenal show their interest in me.”
His agent Bektas Demirtas has taken it a step further by saying that he expects Arsenal to make a bid for him in as early as the upcoming January transfer window. He said, “I think the English clubs will approach HSV in December or January.”
Do you see Arsenal make a bid to strengthen their midfield, an area in which they are very well stocked at the moment? Or will they instead focus on more key areas of concern like the strikeforce?