Chelsea step up efforts to sign free-kick maestro Calhanoglu but will have to wait until end of season
Chelsea have been closely linked with Hakan Calhanoglu over the winter transfer window. The Blues have been scouting the Bayer Leverkusen star a source close to the player told Turkish-Football.com.
The London based outfit also make an offer for Calhanoglu and have been stepping up efforts to sign the free-kick maestro.
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Calhanoglu is open to playing Premier League football however, he will not leave Bayer over the winter transfer window unless something drastic changes from now until the end of the transfer window.
Bayer want to keep the 22-year-old on until at least the summer and Calhanoglu is contracted to the club for another two-and-a-half years.
Chelsea sent scouts to watch Calhanoglu last month against FC Koln and are expected to continue keeping tabs on him over the second half of the season.
The Blues could face competition from Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham who have also been tracking thee free-kick maestro.
Calhanoglu is expected to start for Bayer on Sunday against Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga.
The Turkish international has been in impressive form for Bayer this season scoring five goals and providing six assists for Bayer in 20 appearances.
The 22-year-old is renowned for his set-piece taking ability and also has an eye for goal. He found the back of the net 26 times and make 28 assists for the Bundesliga outfit.
Despite being a Turkish international, Calhanoglu would not need a work permit to play in the Premier League.
Like Mesut Ozil, Ilkay Gundogan and Emre Can who already play in the Premier League, Calhanoglu was born in Germany into a Turkish family.
Calhanoglu has has 26 caps for the Turkish national team and has netted eight times for the Crescent Stars.
Bayer have not been in the best of form domestically and are currently 9th but they have done better in the Champions League and booked a place in the Round of 16 where they will play Atletico Madrid.