Can midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu propel Liverpool into the title race?

Liverpool have been lined with a move for Turkey international and rising Bundesliga star Hakan Calhanoglu by the Daily Mirror, although they will have to compete with Premier League rivals Arsenal for the youngsters signature.

Liverpool could certainly do with some more personnel and quality in the centre of the park. Steven Gerrard, as you would expect, is performing well as Liverpool mount what looks like a possible title challenge and a number of others are doing okay but there is a real lack of both depth and top level players in their ranks.

Hakan Calhanoglu could change that. The 19-year-old German-born Turkey international is in his debut season with Hamburg having just finished a loan spell with Karlsruher SC, who he scored 14 times for in 31 league outings last season.

Despite playing for a relatively ordinary and mid-table Hamburg side that have just four league wins to their name all season he has amassed a Performance Score of 300, only Steven Gerrard and, surprisingly, Jordan Henderson have higher at Liverpool while Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Joe Allen all score far lower.

He also likes a goal. Four in 14 is pretty decent from midfield and no Liverpool midfielder can boast the same amount of goals or higher. Chalhanoglu also hits the target with 60% of his efforts making him pretty accurate in front of goal.

His passing is not great but is not bad either, 77% of his attempted passes find a team mate, this would make him the worst passer of the ball among Brendan Rodgers group of midfielders. Although this could be put down to playing in a mid-table side under more pressure against better teams. However he has made 26 key passes. Only Gerrard has more at Liverpool while Henderson has made the same.

Defensively sound as well he wins 56% of tackles and has made 14 interceptions making him key in stopping opposition attacks. One thing that does let him down however is his heading. Calhanoglu only wins 17% of aerial duels which is pretty poor to say the least.

Calhanoglu is a solid, all round midfielder that can aid both the defence and the attack. He can tackle, pass, assist, score and is a promising young player who looks set to improve as he gets older and gets more game time.

Hamburg are likely to be willing to cash in on the midfielder, especially as they look set to miss out on European football and the money it brings.

He would and quality, strength and depth to a Liverpool midfield and would probably prefer a move to Anfield over Arsenal as games would be more readily available under Brendan Rodgers.