Chelsea could make move to sign £43m playmaker who once had to deny he was desperate to join them

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Chelsea and Liverpool are both interested in Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.

That is according to a report from Inter Live.

It claims that Chelsea and their Premier League rivals could make a move for Hakan Calhanoglu in January.

The same outlet has also suggested that Inter could say yes to a proposal of €50m (£42.9m) for the 29-year-old but not until the summer.

This is not the first time there has been talk about Chelsea and Calhanoglu. The Turkey international once had to deny that he wanted to join the Blues, with ESPN relaying his denial.

Will Chelsea sign Hakan Calhanoglu?

This one just seems highly unlikely. Turning 30 in February, Calhanoglu does not really fit Chelsea’s transfer strategy.

Since being taken over by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, the club have mostly signed young players.

Chelsea did not even look at James Maddison, despite the attacking midfielder being available following Leicester City’s relegation, and he was only 26 at the time.

Maddison was one of the standout players outside the top six before his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

If the Blues did not seriously consider him, with The Telegraph claiming that they did not because of his age, it is hard to imagine them making a move for Calhanoglu.

That being said, who knows? Maybe Boehly and Co will eventually come to the conclusion that you cannot just have a team of young players. Chelsea have gone for that approach and it is costing them.

There is a real lack of maturity right now, with players constantly picking up cards for the silliest of reasons.

Nicolas Jackson, a striker, has already served a suspension after an accumulation of yellows, while Reece James missed the 3-2 win against Brighton & Hove Albion yesterday after his ridiculous sending off at St James’ Park.

The above does not mean Chelsea should go out and buy Calhanoglu. But maybe it will help the club to see that their transfer policy needs to be adjusted a bit.