Manchester United Transfer News: Hakan Calhanoglu Addresses Red Devils Rumours

Bayer Leverkusen star Hakan Calhanoglu has given Manchester United fans a mouth-watering hint he could be available for a move to Old Trafford after admitting he'd find the transfer difficult to turn down.

Speaking to Turkish broadcaster Lig TV earlier this week, Calhanoglu sounded out United and Barcelona as two of the teams he might have trouble rejecting if they came calling (h/t Goal's Eliot Rothwell):

"

Barcelona and Manchester United are huge clubs. It would be difficult to turn them down but I have not said anything about any transfers or anything of the sort. I have not said anything and there is nothing to talk about, but of course if Barcelona made an offer I would have to consider it.

"

While Calhanoglu might insist "there is nothing to talk about," one might beg to differ following what will be treated as a very public statement regarding which clubs can hold a hope of tempting him to leave Leverkusen.

The 21-year-old completed a €14.5 million move to the BayArena from Hamburg in July 2014, swiftly moving up the Bundesliga's ranks over the past year and looking capable of another step up.

United have already added a host of young attackers to their ranks in recent months, namely Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay, but Calhanoglu would make for another stellar addition to their lineup.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

The Red Devils will be pleased to hear the Factory Squad have a selling point when it comes to their starlet, too, after chief executive Michael Schade was quoted by German newspaper Bild (via Sport Witness), stating: "We want to keep Hakan, but there is a pain threshold for us."

A familiar factor likely to influence any deal is the Premier League's ability to outdo most of the wages on offer in Germany, with United one of those able to hand Calhanoglu a more lucrative pay packet.

The youngster is regarded as one of, if not the best free-kick taker in Europe right now, and OptaPaolo testified to Calhanoglu being the most prolific player from a dead ball these past two-and-a-half seasons:

Calhanoglu has scored five goals in 19 appearances across all competitions this season, and despite his age, the starlet is already regarded as a very important piece of the puzzle at Bayer Leverkusen.

But with Wayne Rooney's future at Manchester United being called into some question of late and Martial moving closer to becoming the club's first-choice striker, the Red Devils could be set for big changes in attack.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

The club already have the likes of Ander Herrera and Juan Mata, both of whom are capable of pulling the strings in attacking midfield or in a more advanced No. 10 role, but Calhanoglu's set piece gives him another edge.

His latest comments are sure to be welcomed at the Theatre of Dreams, as will Leverkusen's admission the player would be able to leave as long as United are willing to stump up the cash.