Fabrizio Romano shares Leeds United transfer news, Hakan Calhanoglu will not leave Inter Milan
Reports that Leeds United were looking to sign midfielder Hakan Calhanoglou are “100%” wide of the mark, with the player closing in on a new agreement at Inter Milan, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Whites were tipped with a move for the 29-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer of 2024 and was touted to be sold in the summer transfer window. [Football Insider, 27 February]
Leeds were reportedly in contact with Calhanoglou’s agent about a potential deal, but Guardian journalist Romano has now shut down any rumours between the two parties, stating Calhanoglou will stay with the Serie A giants.
Taking to Twitter on Thursday evening (2 March), Romano wrote: “Reports of Southampton and Leeds as options for Hakan Çalhanoglu are 100% wide of mark. He’s not gonna leave Inter.
“Inter are closing in on the agreement to extend Çalhanoglu’s contract, it’s set to be completed.”
No hope
Calhanoglu is a brilliant player and has had a superb career across Europe, so it was always going to be a long shot to lure him to Elland Road in the summer.
Given the club’s current plight under Javi Gracia, this deal was full of complications, and it seems as though it has been shut down before it even got off the ground.
If a deal had progressed, questions would surely have arisen about whether he had the physical profile suited to the Premier League and if he was an improvement on Leeds’ current crop of attacking midfielders.
Gracia has already talked up U.S International Brenden Aaronson for his early form since his arrival as manager, and chuck into the mix Crysencio Summerville and Jack Harrison, and the Whites already look well stocked in this department.
What Leeds desperately need is an out-and-out goalscorer, and not another attacking midfielder who will grab a few assists across the season.
In other Leeds United news, the 49ers takeover is in jeopardy if Gracia cannot achieve his goals this season.
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