In accordance with Italian soccer expert Alessandro Jacobone (h/t Daily Star), Arsenal are interested in registering AC Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu. Calhanoglu, 25, is a seasoned player and has made over 100 appearances for AC Milan. He’s fought to cement his place at the AC Milan XI in the season, nevertheless, handling 19 league appearances. Daily Star adds that the Turkey international is deemed surplus to requirements at San Siro and his agent is looking to engineer a move away this month. Arsenal are currently 10th in the table, and they’re also seven points away from the relegation zone while they are 10 points behind Chelsea. Nevertheless, they have shown signs of progress and are unbeaten in their last four league matches.
Among those players that have enhanced the most under Arteta much is Granit Xhaka. He has been fantastic of late, especially in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge although the Switzerland international struggled for form in the first half of the season. Xhaka, together with Lucas Torreira, has been able to bring some stability into the Gunners’ midfield. And with Joe Willock, Matteo Guendouzi and Real Madrid loanee Dani Ceballos in the reservations, signing a midfielder hardly makes any sense for Arsenal. Therefore, the Gunners should avoid signing Hakan Calhanoglu. Calhanoglu hasn’t set the world alight considering going to AC Milan in 2017 from Bayer Leverkusen. He has scored 14 goals and created 24 longer for Milan far, failing to establish himself. The Gunners will be better off not signing the Turkey international since they are well-stocked in the midfield department even though he’s just 25.
Verdict
The North London giants’ priority must be to strengthen their defensive options after the season-ending injury to Calum Chambers, who might be out for up to nine months after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee (h/t Daily Mail). Arteta would be wise to look in a bid to climb up the table for a solution to his defensive issues as the remaining part unfolds.
