by Lewis Ambrose

According to talkSPORT Arsenal have an interest in Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.

The 21 year-old has only been at Leverkusen for one season following a €14M move from fellow Bundesliga club Hamburger SV, but impressed during his first year at a new club scoring 13 goals. Five of his eight Bundesliga goals for his new club were from dead ball situations, which he undoubtedly excels from – no player in the ‘top five’ leagues in Europe scored more.

Sunderland are now reportedly in for the player, but he surely wouldn’t leave a Champions League club in Germany to sign for the Black Cats.

The young player commented on interest from far bigger clubs last week, though there isn’t anything to prove that rumours are anything but that.

“It is great that Barcelona and Real Madrid are interested of course,” Calhanoglu told DHA.

“It makes me proud to be linked with these clubs but that is for my agent to look into let us see what happens.” 

There is no doubt that Calhanoglu has an incredible ability for striking the ball, but his talent is not exactly overwhelming in other areas. He fitted into Leverkusen’s intelligent pressing system but his defensive contribution wasn’t huge and he is technically limited when he is under pressure or in tight spaces in open play.

Arsenal – and any other top side – could certainly do with a player so proficient from set-pieces but it wouldn’t be worth signing him when he is not yet a top level player in any other area.