Arsenal make Hakan Calhanoglu ‘contract offer’ to AC Milan midfielder

Arsenal are aiming to make the most of the most of their limited budget by submitting an offer to Hakan Calhanoglu at AC Milan, who is becoming a free agent at the end of the season.

The words ‘free agent’ have morphed into a terrifying term attributed to ageing, unwanted stars who are demanding too much money off their parent clubs or are simply not worth renewing to keep around the place. At least for Arsenal they are.

Willian is the most recent example, with Stephan Lichtsteiner just before him, proving that a lack of transfer fees parted with does not necessarily constitute clever business. Sead Kolasinac and Yaya Sanogo were two younger free transfers before them who haven’t added to the allure of players out of contract.

It can work, though.

https://twitter.com/hakanc10/status/1377178086291083273

Arsenal make Hakan Calhanoglu ‘contract offer’ with AC Milan midfielder becoming a free agent the summer transfer window

Especially if your bank balance reads poorly and the player in question is of a suitable age and experience. Hakan Calhanoglu should be about 35 given he’s managed to be linked with a move to the Premier League for what feels likes decades. In fact he isn’t – he’s just turned 27 – and his time at AC Milan looks like it’s coming to an end.

With his deal expiring in the summer, to remain at San Siro the Turk is asking for money that Milan won’t offer him. A stand-off is taking place and the likely outcome is better wages elsewhere, something Arsenal are seeking to do.

As per Sky Italia, Arsenal and Chelsea have both submitted offers to the midfielder’s camp in a bid to tie his services down beyond the end of the campaign, rivaling a similar offer from Juventus.

Calhanoglu is after €5m-per-year without bonuses, while the Rossoneri won’t go higher than €4m – they have ‘no intention’ of doing so. It’s stated that Juventus’ offer is more financially alluring than the Premier League pair, putting them in the driving seat, although there is no reason for the Gunners not to up their offer if they are serious.

€5m-per-year roughly equates to £80k-per-week without factoring tax and bonuses, fairly tame expenditure in comparison to the ‘Champions League wages’ that many of Mikel Arteta’s squad are earning.

Should they pursue this deal?