First step of £32m Chelsea transfer prophecy realised following wedding of Bundesliga target
Bayer Leverkusen star Hakan Calhanoglu was involved in a controversial transfer rumour back in January.
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet claimed that they caught Calhanoglu confiding in private that he will have his wedding in a few months and then ‘god willing’ complete his Chelsea transfer.
Calhanoglu was also quoted as saying that other clubs were also interested in signing him.
Hurriyet published quotes claiming Calhanoglu had said: “I will have my wedding in a few months and then god willing, I will be a Chelsea player next season, there are also other clubs that want me.”
Calhanoglu took to Twitter to refute the quotes attributed to him but the newspaper involved never retracted the news or issued an apology.
I said nothing about Chelsea in the press & didn’t talk to any Turkish journalist – neither about the court decision nor about my future!
— Hakan Çalhanoğlu (@hakanc10) February 6, 2017
In fact they continue to link Calhanoglu with a summer move.
The first part of the transfer prophecy came true over the weekend when Calhanoglu revealed that he got married to Sinem Gundogudu in Mannheim, Germany.
See More: How Chelsea’s 3-4-3 could lineup if €38m target Hakan Calhanoglu joins
Despite Calhanoglu trying to distance himself from the comments his agent Bektas Demirtas did not move to deny Chelsea interest.
In fact Demirtas hinted that a summer move could actually be on the cards.
“It is said that Hakan is on the radar of Chelsea, what I will comment on is that Atletico Madrid tried to transfer Calhanoglu but the Bayer Leverkusen said no,” Demirtas was quoted as saying by the Italian version of Eurosport.
“Now the situation has changed and Calhanoglu could soon say goodbye,”
A source close to the player revealed to Turkish-Football that Chelsea are not the only side plotting a move for Calhanoglu. Manchester United as well as several clubs from Spain and the Premier League have expressed an interest.
Calhanoglu has made no secret of his desire to play in the Premier League or La Liga in the past.
The 22-year-old did tell Lig TV the following: “Barcelona and Manchester United are huge clubs, it would be difficult to turn them down.”
The Sun meanwhile recently reported that Atletico Madrid are set to bid £17 million bid for the free-kick maestro.
Per the source, Bayer want his full release clause which stands at £32.25 million.
Calhanoglu is currently serving a playing ban until the end of the season after FIFA ruled he broke an agreement to join Trabzonspor from Karlsruhe in 2011.