Manchester United are keeping tabs on the Germany-born Turkey 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. You can see a compendium of his best bits by clicking on this link. 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’s 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”.
