Arsenal
Reuters

Arsenal and Liverpool are set for a January battle over Turkish star Hakan Calhanoglu, according to the Daily Express.

The attacking midfielder is among the most talented prospects in Turkish football and has been hailed as the new Mesut Ozil for his style of play. The 19-year-old is being watched by a number of clubs across Europe, including the likes of Galatasaray and the Premier League clubs will do well to prise him off Hamburg who currently employ him in the Bundesliga.

The youngster has already made 14 starts this season in the league, scoring four goals and assisting two, a creditable return for a player of his age. The midfielder is likely to improve as the season goes on, which has forced other clubs to keep a keen eye on his progress.

General Manager Oliver Kreuzer inists that they want to keep him but does concede that every player has a price and hints that he will be forced to sell if a suitable offer comes his way.

"Of course, every player has a price. We do not have any interest in selling him. Hakan is keen on making himself a name in the Bundesliga," Kreuzer said.

The player himself is in no hurry to leave as transferring to a bigger club would mean lesser game time, something which he needs right now to improve his game.

"My goal is to play at Hamburg and eventually join a club in England or Spain in the future," he remarks.

Arsenal are likely to be favourites to sign him should the player decide to make a move, given that the Gunners have the real Ozil in their ranks and the player will be able to learn a lot from one of the best attacking midfielders in the world. Liverpool will also interest the player owing to the presence of Brendan Rodgers, who is yet to put a foot wrong forward since his transfer to Merseyside and has experience working with the likes of Philippe Coutinho and converting them into world beaters.