Stefano Pioli sound very optimistic about Hakan Calhanoglu’s future at the club in the post-game interview following Wednesday’s win over Lazio: “I do not think there are any issue. He feels great with us and with the club. I know for sure that his intention is to stay, then obviously there is an ongoing negotiation. The management, the coaching staff and the player all want the same thing, he has reached very important levels and he still has room to grow. He is somebody you can count on.”
The Turkish international produced his best display of the year in the thrilling 3-2 victory over the Biancocelesti, where he found the target for the first time in Serie A play with a penalty kick and provided two assists through set pieces.
There is growing confidence behind the scenes that the extension will eventually get done, even though the two parties have yet to come to terms on the wages. Transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano reported that the 26-year-old midfielder is not in talks with other teams at the moment, while Tuttomercatoweb recently revealed that Calhanoglu is highly unlikely to leave in January even if he does not get the renewal as, in the worst-case scenario, he will finish the season with the Rossoneri and leave for free in the summer.
Our view
Details about the new contract have yet to emerge, but it looks like things are headed in the right direction between Calhanoglu and Milan and the player has been performing better and better since his agent recently met the club.