Manchester United are keeping tabs on Germany born Turkey international midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu,
a 21-year-old playmaker renowned for his dead ball strikes. Calhanoglu
made quite the name for himself by scoring a free-kick against Borussia
Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller from 41 metres out last year, one
of 12 free-kicks from which he has scored since beginning his career in
the Bundesliga. In other Manchester United news, young midfielder Jesse Lingard could be off to Sheffield Wednesday on loan.
Tottenham Hotspur continue to be linked with Lille striker Sofiane Boufal,
a 21-year-old playmaker who has previously attracted interest from
Leicester City and Newcastle. Two-footed and comfortable on either wing
or playing behind a striker, the Moroccan international has been likened
to Eden Hazard by Lille captain Rio Mavuba. “I like to try things, to
take players on and dribble with the ball,” Boufal has said in the past.
“I played a lot of football when I was little and that helped me to
work on my technique, to do nutmegs and flicks. I really like Ronaldinho
and Zidane. But more Ronaldinho. I loved the way he’d put on a show. I
loved his dribbling, his pure skill.”
Speaking of Ronaldinho, the nightclub-loving former
Brazil superstar will not be retiring despite leaving Fluminese after
playing just nine games. “Are you crazy?” whooped the 35-year-old’s
older brother upon being asked if his sibling was planning on hanging up
his boots. “No chance, you’ll have more surprises yet. He has to be
happy on the field and feel good about himself. He has an advantage over
many others in that he has never suffered from a serious injury. And
while he still has that flicker then great.”
Former Newcastle, Blackburn Rovers and Republic of Ireland striker Leon Best is
currently on trial at Championship side Huddersfield Town, having
already failed to earn himself a contract at QPR during the summer. The
free agent is hoping to secure himself a contract from Terriers manager
Chris Powell, who has already had a look at Shola Ameobi and
decided not to take a chance on him. Released by Crystal Palace in the
summer, Ameobi, 33, is now jumping through hoops at Bolton Wanderers,
where manager Neil Lennon has said the player has “got a good pedigree
and might offer us something a little bit different”. Asked if there
might be a deal on the table for the former Newcastle cult hero, Lennon
promised to “take a good look at him and make a decision from there”.
