In the wake of reports surfacing which have linked Bundesliga side RB Leipzig with a move for AC Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, coach Ralf Rangnick has claimed that it will not happen.
Prior to joining the Rossoneri in the summer of 2017, the 24-year-old had spent his entire senior career in Germany with Karlsruher, Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen.
Reports on both Sky Sport Italia and Mediaset had linked him with a return to the Bundesliga this winter, suggesting that Leipzig were set to offer €22 million to the Rossoneri in a bid to bring the Turkey international to the Red Bull Arena.
It was suggested that Gennaro Gattuso had not yet given the green light to the deal as he wanted to assess the ability of newcomer Lucas Paqueta before agreeing to let Calhanoglu depart the club.
However, his sale would free up significant funds for the Diavolo if he did depart in a €22m move, although the boss of the German side has claimed that the costs involved have ruled them out of the race.
“Financially, it is an impossible operation for us,” he told reporters at his press conference on Thursday. “We know his price and what it would take to sign him and for that reason, it isn’t a feasible deal at the moment.”
Calhanoglu, who was one of the brighter Milan performers in their Supercoppa Italiana defeat to Juventus, has started 21 games in all competitions at club level this season, scoring once and providing six assists.
