Following a shaky start to the season, Manchester United had set their sights on AC Milan‘s Hakan Calhanoglu in order to help turn their season around. However, Milan technical director Paolo Maldini has confirmed that the Turk has begun talks over a new contract, throwing a spanner in manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s plans.
United Target Calhanoglu in Contract Extension Talks with Milan
Milan Want Several Key Renewals
Instead of bringing in new players, Maldini and the rest of the staff are focusing on keeping their existing stars. Along with Calhanoglu, the club is also looking to tie down Gianluigi Donnaruma to a long-range extension.
A very talented young goalkeeper, the Italian has loads of experience for someone so young. At the age of 21, he already has around 230 appearances for his club, as well as 22 caps for his national team. Seen as the natural heir to Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon, Donnaruma has a very exciting future ahead of him.
Calhanoglu has also played a very important role in Milan for the past few seasons. Since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2017, he has been an ever-present in their starting lineup, and hardly ever disappoints.
A very impressive start to the season sees the Rossoneri first in the Serie A, led by 39-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Conversely, United are ninth in the Premier League and have had their struggles recently. Calhanoglu seems to be settled at Milan, and with their prospects looking very promising, he has no reason to leave.
Typical United Inconsistency Once Again
Ever since the departure of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, inconsistency has characterized United’s seasons. They have never mounted a serious title challenge since then, with their highest-placed finish being second, 30 points behind neighbours Manchester City.
After an excellent run of form in the restart that led to a third-place finish, United must’ve harboured some hope of challenging for that elusive title. However, it has not all gone according to plan for Solskjaer and his team.
The 6-1 Tottenham Hotspur humiliation overshadowed any result, good or bad, that United have had this season. They also pulled off an impressive win away to Paris Saint-Germain, but inconsistency has characterized their season at this stage.
As they sit midtable, they must be thinking of ways to improve the team. However, it seems that Calhanoglu will not be this year’s Bruno Fernandes, as he looks set to stay with Milan.
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