‘Arsenal and Aston Villa especially’ plot deal for Serie A star and club will ‘falter’ if €30m bid arrives

Lewis Oldham
Arsenal-linked Calhanoglu

Arsenal and Aston Villa are both reportedly interested in Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and a move in January is said to be a possibility.

The Gunners were in the market for a new centre-midfielder during the summer transfer window.

They were linked with Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans as he entered the final year of his contract but they were unwilling to pay £25-30m to sign him.

Arsenal looked settle and move forward with their current squad as deadline day neared in the summer. But when Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny suffered injuries, they were forced into the market.

They attempted to lure Douglas Luiz away from Aston Villa but their Premier League rivals turned down several deadline day bids.

The ex-Man City man was due to be out of contract next year but he has since extended his deal at Villa Park.

A move for Tielemans still looks to be on the cards though as he has made it clear that he does not wish to stay at Leicester beyond this season.

Arsenal are known to be admirers of Tielemans but they are now also looking at the possibility of signing Calhanoglu.

InterLive (via Sport Witness) are reporting that the midfielder is ‘in the sights’ of Arsenal and Aston Villa ahead of January.

His deal is up in 2024 and Inter Milan are keen for him to pen a new deal but ‘Arsenal and Villa especially’ want him.

It is said that Inter Milan have ‘no intention’ to sell Calhanoglu but they may be forced to if the player makes it clear that he does not plan on staying long-term.

It is even claimed that Inter chairman – Steven Zhang – could ‘falter’ if a club bids €30m to sign Calhanoglu in January.

The Turkey international spent four years at AC Milan between 2017 and 2021. He joined Inter last year on a three-year deal when his contract at their rivals expired.

Speaking on the move to Inter, Calhanoglu stated in the summer that he is “very happy”.

“It was very difficult, as it was the same city and different colours, but I worked hard and knew this was my opportunity to join the reigning champions of Italy,” Calhanoglu said (via Football Italia).

“Then when the team I joined didn’t win the Scudetto and my old club did, people acted like it was my fault.

“I am very happy at Inter, though, and the support of the fans is very helpful. I played at Milan for four years, but nobody ever chanted my name in the stands, whereas it happens every time I just warm up for Inter.”

Another midfielder Arsenal are looking at is their former academy product Ismael Bennacer. He currently plays for AC Milan.

Like Calhanoglu, Bennacer is also out of contract in 2024. Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) are reporting that Arsenal and Chelsea have made ‘initial contact’ in the hope of signing him.

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