Inter Milan aims to provide stability for coach Chivu. The potential arrival of Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka, formerly of Arsenal and now at Bayer Leverkusen since 2023, could significantly alter the team`s tactical setup.
While their names might sound similar, Hakan Calhanoglu and Granit Xhaka are fundamentally different players. Their playing style, technical abilities, physical attributes, intensity, and even preferred foot vary significantly. Crucially, their accustomed tactical roles would radically change Inter`s formation. Calhanoglu operates as the central pivot in a 3-5-2, dictating play with two high wing-backs and two closely-positioned midfielders like Barella and Mkhitaryan. Xhaka, on the other hand, is a defensive midfielder suited for a two-man midfield, which would allow coach Chivu to deploy an additional forward, potentially Ademola Lookman. The question for Inter ahead of next season is: which of these two players should they prioritize?
The Current Situation
Tomorrow marks a pivotal moment: the long-awaited face-to-face meeting between Inter and Hakan Calhanoglu. After weeks of rumors, alleged bids, social media posts, and silence, the Nerazzurri midfielder will finally speak. He has yet to formally request a transfer or deny the whispers of his desire to return home, whether to Galatasaray or Fenerbahçe. Calhanoglu is set to arrive back in Milan today from his Turkish holiday, and tomorrow he will meet with the club to resolve this situation once and for all. It`s a clear `now or never` moment. For the first time, Hakan will disclose his true intentions, even as his agent continues to engage with Turkish clubs, despite a lack of concrete offers from Fenerbahçe. Inter, weary of the uncertainty, wants a definitive answer to allow coach Chivu to plan the future squad, with or without Calhanoglu, without last-minute complications before the team reunion.
The Competition
Should the Turkish midfielder definitively confirm his desire to return to Turkey – and, crucially, if Fenerbahçe finally submits a formal offer to Inter – the Nerazzurri will then actively pursue an ideal replacement. Granit Xhaka of Bayer Leverkusen has emerged as the prime candidate. The reasoning is tactical: Xhaka, accustomed to Xabi Alonso`s 3-4-2-1 formation in recent years, would allow Chivu to deviate from the traditional 3-5-2, at least as a starting point. This tactical shift would inevitably involve Ademola Lookman, who would paradoxically take Calhanoglu`s spot, resulting in one less midfielder but an additional forward. With Xhaka partnering Barella in a midfield boasting both strength and quality, flanked by two attacking wing-backs, the setup would be dynamic. Indeed, last season`s statistics highlighted the striking similarities between Inter`s Dimarco-Dumfries and Leverkusen`s Grimaldo-Frimpong, who were among Europe`s most prolific wide players. However, time is of the essence, and not just regarding Calhanoglu`s situation: clubs like Saudi`s Neom, Sunderland, West Ham, and even Fenerbahçe are closely monitoring Xhaka`s availability. Inter awaits developments.
