In December, Hamburg sporting director Oliver Kreuzer confirmed Liverpool's interest in exciting attacking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, who is seemingly on the verge of a move to bayer Leverkusen. This has not scuppered the Reds' interest, though, and Brendan Rodgers is reportedly considering a late bid for the 20-year old.
Prior to the recent January transfer window, Kreuzer told German newspaper BILD:
"Liverpool and Arsenal are interested. We do not want to sell him, but every player has a price. "
Bayer Leverkusen appear to be in pole-position to sign Calhanoglu, and the club's CEO Michael Schade is convinced the deal is all sewn up. He told reporters this week:
"Calhanoglu should be our chief transfer. HSV have been given our written offer. We are clear with the player. He has verbally accepted our offer and only wants to come to us. He has clearly told Hamburg that."
Soon after, Kreuzer once again claimed that 'Liverpool are interested', and reports today claim that:
* Liverpool are preparing to gazump Leverkusen with a late bid for Calhanoglu.
* Brendan Rodgers has previously made a 'personal trip' to watch him in action.
Leverkusen may be in pole-position, but LFC have a small advantage. In a recent interview, Calhanoglu - ludicrously dubbed the 'new Mesut Ozil' - revealed a preference for the Premier League. He told reporters:
"My goal is to play at Hamburg and eventually join a club in England or Spain in the future."
Speaking to Sport-Bild this week, Calhanoglu reiterated his desire to leave Hamburg:
"I would definitely leave Hamburg. I want to play in Europe and I want to make my parents happy. I want to be like Ronaldo and Messi. I want to be a world star."
Calhanoglu is inexperienced and untested outside Germany, but his creative output is very good for a 20-year old:
* 2012-13: 14 goals in 31 apps for Karlsruhe
* 2013-14: 11 goals/4 assists in 32 apps.
Hamburg recently slapped a £15m price tag on Calhanoglu's head, but after the Alberto fiasco, I don't see the logic in spending that amount of money on another comparatively untested attacker. Additionally, with Emre Can already signed, plus Gerrard, Allen, Lucas, Hendo, Sterling, and Coutinho in the squad, where does Calhanoglu fit in?
Plus, there's a new cause for concern: Hamburg manager Mirko Slomka revealed this week that Calhanoglu has been granted four weeks of 'sick leave', and is currently being treated by a 'specialist in neurology and psychology'. When asked about the youngster's situation, Slomka refused to expand on the issue, and simply said:
"We are going to give him whatever help he needs"
If Calhanoglu is suffered from depression, or some other psychological issue, it's probably not a good idea for him to uproot his whole life at this particular moment. Moving to a new country at such a young age may be counter-productive, and it's probably best for his recovery if he's in familiar surroundings.
Ultimately, if the Reds are going to sign another attacking midfielder, it should be someone with more experience and stature, i.e. players like Pedro or Sanchez, who will provide proper competition across the board, and have the talent to come in and make a quick impact.
Author: Jaimie K
Prior to the recent January transfer window, Kreuzer told German newspaper BILD:
"Liverpool and Arsenal are interested. We do not want to sell him, but every player has a price. "
Bayer Leverkusen appear to be in pole-position to sign Calhanoglu, and the club's CEO Michael Schade is convinced the deal is all sewn up. He told reporters this week:
"Calhanoglu should be our chief transfer. HSV have been given our written offer. We are clear with the player. He has verbally accepted our offer and only wants to come to us. He has clearly told Hamburg that."
Soon after, Kreuzer once again claimed that 'Liverpool are interested', and reports today claim that:
* Liverpool are preparing to gazump Leverkusen with a late bid for Calhanoglu.
* Brendan Rodgers has previously made a 'personal trip' to watch him in action.
Leverkusen may be in pole-position, but LFC have a small advantage. In a recent interview, Calhanoglu - ludicrously dubbed the 'new Mesut Ozil' - revealed a preference for the Premier League. He told reporters:
"My goal is to play at Hamburg and eventually join a club in England or Spain in the future."
Speaking to Sport-Bild this week, Calhanoglu reiterated his desire to leave Hamburg:
"I would definitely leave Hamburg. I want to play in Europe and I want to make my parents happy. I want to be like Ronaldo and Messi. I want to be a world star."
Calhanoglu is inexperienced and untested outside Germany, but his creative output is very good for a 20-year old:
* 2012-13: 14 goals in 31 apps for Karlsruhe
* 2013-14: 11 goals/4 assists in 32 apps.
Hamburg recently slapped a £15m price tag on Calhanoglu's head, but after the Alberto fiasco, I don't see the logic in spending that amount of money on another comparatively untested attacker. Additionally, with Emre Can already signed, plus Gerrard, Allen, Lucas, Hendo, Sterling, and Coutinho in the squad, where does Calhanoglu fit in?
Plus, there's a new cause for concern: Hamburg manager Mirko Slomka revealed this week that Calhanoglu has been granted four weeks of 'sick leave', and is currently being treated by a 'specialist in neurology and psychology'. When asked about the youngster's situation, Slomka refused to expand on the issue, and simply said:
"We are going to give him whatever help he needs"
If Calhanoglu is suffered from depression, or some other psychological issue, it's probably not a good idea for him to uproot his whole life at this particular moment. Moving to a new country at such a young age may be counter-productive, and it's probably best for his recovery if he's in familiar surroundings.
Ultimately, if the Reds are going to sign another attacking midfielder, it should be someone with more experience and stature, i.e. players like Pedro or Sanchez, who will provide proper competition across the board, and have the talent to come in and make a quick impact.
Author: Jaimie K
I'm with you JK not sure on this and it seems as though he's on his way to Leverkusen anyway. Shaqiri is the one I feel we should push for, £20 mil tops though as a bit concerned about his recent injuries. Way more experience though and definitely has the potential to be a big star. I'm not saying Calhanoglu isn't going to be a big player just feel right now we need somebody who's perhaps a bit further down the line.
ReplyDeleteSanchez would probably be the dream option but I can't see us going after such a big name when we already have SAS.
More click baiting with misleading headlines. I knew there was a reason I have this website blacklisted on news now. Bye forever ;)
ReplyDeletePlus I forgot to add I heard Calhanoglu has been given the sick note as he is in fear of returning to training after making it clear he wanted to leave Hamburg. Major turn off. Let this one go.
ReplyDeletePotential roster now up to 135 people...........all excellent, irreplaceable, fantastic,.........payroll up to 1.00 billion....
ReplyDeletewe want sanchez.......;)
ReplyDeleteDon't worry things will hot up a bit once the transfer window formally opens
ReplyDeleteIn fact, having thought about it, it is cheating. Same as bringing down a player on the edge of the box when he's clean through on goal. The player knows in both situations he will receive a red card and yet, to prevent their opposition from scoring they take that calculated risk anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe following is an excerpt from FIFA's laws of the game:
A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits any of the
following seven offences:
• serious foul play
• violent conduct
• spitting at an opponent or any other person
• denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
• denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
• using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
• receiving a second caution in the same match
Everybody, the ref, the fans and the players all knew the rules and Suarez took a calculated risk to keep his team in the world cup, despite knowing his actions would result in him missing the crucial semi-final.
I can remember Phil Neville doing the same against us after a Lucas shot in the derby. He received a red card with Dirk Kuyt slotting home. I had no complaints then because it was dealt with by the officials, he cheated and was immediately punished and we went on to win the game.
In all honesty Ghana should have scored the penalty and then we wouldn't be talking about this now.
We all know that Suarez is desperate to win football matches, his desire and determination can be his very best attributes but as with most things in life you cant take the smooth without the rough and he is often left looking foolish by his own actions.
Would we still be having this debate if t had been a Ghana player had been clean through on goal, with a Uruguay defender had bringing him down in the box resulting in the penalty and red card shown to him?
I think not somehow
Jaimie, you write the most drivel I have ever heard. Please stop and save us all from you tired, monotonous, soul destroying, regurgitated, biased display of "journalism"
ReplyDeleteSanchez looked amazing yesterday!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've seen the light.
ReplyDeleteIt proves that it is an expected thought process and Suarez's actions are more the norm rather than unique to him as you suggest. It doesn't bring any bad reflection on lfc in the same way no one even thought about ajax at the time! The game is thriving. Incidentally didn't you say you hope he cheats against England? Isn't that hypocritical and against your principles?
ReplyDeleteDon't get too carried away Jaimie, I still don't agree with your position on Suarez. Yes it's cheating but only in the way that any sort of foul play in a game of football is. You don't want to see any underhand or foul play but it is policed within games.
ReplyDeleteIf you call Suarez's actions cheating, any foul, any push, any untoward action in a game of football is cheating. Technically you are correct and that is why we have referees. In this case they dished out the correct punishment for the offence committed and I don't see why that should lead to a vilification of Suarez who in all reality shows more commitment, desire and passion than the vast majority of footballers. He carries his team-mates through games with his hard working attitude.... Yes, this also causes him to behave like a numpty sometimes, but he doesn't deserve the level of criticism you seem to think he deserves.
You really are a "all or nothing" guy, aren't you?
ReplyDeleteAnd through your egocentric nature only your opinions hold any worth to you ...
Well, if you think it's cheating, fine ... but who says, that everybody has to hold the same opinion as you?
Get over yourself, dude!
Nonsense. It's you who needs to get over yourself. Who said everyone has to have the same opinion as me? I certainly haven't, so what are you on about People can think whatever they like about cheating, but so can I. You just handle the fact that I disagree with you.
ReplyDeleteThere are certain things in life that are just objectively wrong, and can never be justified. Rape, murder, child abuse are three such things, and when it comes to sport, cheating is similarly unjustifiable.
Deliberately hand-balling on the line to prevent a certain goal is cheating, and no one is ever going to convince me otherwise. It's wrong, pure and simple.
I am only here to talk about football matters ...
ReplyDelete"Deliberately hand-balling on the line to prevent a certain goal is
cheating, and no one is ever going to convince me otherwise. It's wrong,
pure and simple."
Well, for you it's cheating, but for me it's just foul play as he got his rightful punishment.
Neither you nor I will be giving up arguing our points of opinion on this matter, so let's agree to disagree ...
dirty sanchez. :)
ReplyDeleteI see Henry and his ilk in a worse light because they tentatively hide behind their actions until it's sure they have paid off. Then when it has they show regret. At least Suarez says "Yes I did it and I'd do it again" you know where you stand with that kind of attitude. Now I do'nt agree with his actions but I do understand and I can live with them as does at least one Ghanian who replied to your article. If he can forgive Suarez why can't you? Sometimes life and actions in football are unfair and it's all part and parcel of the game whether we like it or not. Suarez is human and like I said I disagree with all of his transgressions but the man has learnt to behave in a more professional manner since his return from his 10 match ban and I say long may that continue. But Good God man he is only human after all and please accept that we can't eradicate all of this from football ever. If you can't then I'll just have to leave that with you.
ReplyDeleteX is a handballer and a handball is not cheating it is a foul just like a tackle from behind on a player on goal
ReplyDeleteActually, he spoke in glowing terms about Neville. Model professional, out of character or something like that. Neville was not a cheat according to JK
ReplyDeleteDouble standards are exercised re Mr Suarez all right