A hefty Bayern Munich bid for Hakan Calhanoglu puts Inter Milan in a tough spot, balancing finances and on-field performance.
Today’s print edition of the Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, highlights this situation.
Bayern Munich is reportedly considering a move for Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu. While they haven’t made any formal offers or approaches to Inter yet, they’ve been sounding out the player, and rumors suggest he’s open to the transfer.
If Bayern does make an offer for Calhanoglu, it will be substantial. The Bavarians understand that Inter won’t entertain offers below €50 million for a player who was named Serie A’s best midfielder last season. Therefore, they won’t risk an insulting low-ball bid for Calhanoglu. Should an offer come, Inter will know Bayern means business.
Inter will then face a critical decision. With Calhanoglu under contract for three more years, they have the power to resist offers if they choose. However, a bid of sufficient size might be too tempting to ignore.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi has a clear stance on selling Calhanoglu. He has consistently expressed his desire to keep the core of the team intact. After last season’s dominant Serie A title win, Inzaghi believes the best is yet to come and does not want to lose any key players from the starting eleven. Calhanoglu, arguably the most pivotal player for Inter last season, is central to this vision.
However, Inter’s considerations extend beyond the pitch and the coach’s wishes. While they aren’t in the dire financial situation they faced in the summer of 2021 when they sold Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku, Inter isn’t entirely financially secure yet. New owners Oaktree Capital aim for a fully balanced budget for the next set of accounts. A significant offer over €50 million would greatly aid in achieving this goal.
Losing Calhanoglu would undoubtedly be a short-term blow for Inter. However, the club has survived the departures of several key players in recent years and has always emerged stronger. This resilience stems from a strategy of finding market value, improving players, and selling them. A substantial fee for a player who turns 31 next season, signed without a transfer fee, would align perfectly with this strategy.
Bayern Munich’s mega-money bid for Hakan Calhanoglu presents a dilemma for Inter, balancing financial benefits against on-field success.