Young Turk Offers the Perfect Payet Replacement

As the rumours grow that Dimitri Payet has run out of patience with the troubles at West Ham, Frank Lampard raised the important issue on BBC's MOTD special last night as to where the Hammers might look to next without their talisman.

One potential replacement would be Bayer Leverkusen's 22 year old attacking midfield star Hakan Çalhanoğlu. The German born Turkish international is a hot property right now and is widely thought to want a move to the Premiership. 

Particularly known for his Free-Kick taking abilities, Çalhanoğlu even recently had an advent free kick calendar released in his name after scoring from 41 metres last year! Likened in his general play to Mesut Ogil, Çalhanoğlu has an impressive strike rate in the German Top flight of a goal every four games.

Not surprisingly, he is currently being linked with both Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham but first team places at all of clubs are scarce and he may feel an alternative Premiership club would be a better place to enter the next phase of his career.

Çalhanoğlu has two years to run on his current contract at Bayer Leverkusen so the likely transfer fee would make it difficult for the Hammers to afford to hold on to Payet while also bringing in the young Turk, but with a major clearout underway just midway into the season, the Hammers are looking to reduce the wage bill by offloading unsuccessful loan signings as well as a rumoured £12million sale of the unfortunate Sofiane Feghouli.

Losing Payet would be a terrible blow but maybe it’s time to believe again!