Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu says he is totally committed to the Bundesliga club, but is aware he must perform better than he did last season if he is to make the grade.
Leverkusen's general manager Jonas Boldt recently said he would "certainly have to consider it if a certain bid were made" for the Turkey international, but Calhanoglu does not want to entertain the idea of leaving.
"If we were to go separate ways then I would definitely be sad," he told the Express newspaper. "Of course things change quickly in football, but one thing is certain for me: I want to stay with Bayer. I really don't want to leave -- I want to make it here.
"There are three reasons for this: I feel happy with the club and the surroundings, and I still have a contract until 2019. I get on really well with my teammates, and we have a really good squad with great quality and I want to achieve something with them.
"I've had good talks with [coach] Roger Schmidt and the outcome is that I'm going to rise to the challenge."
The 22-year-old said an improvement on his form from last season, when he delivered his worst return in the Bundesliga of just three goals in 31 appearances, is required.
"I can play a lot better," he said. "I want to get back to playing how I was in my first season at Bayer. There is more competition for places in my position now so I've got to show more and put my foot down, and I know this.
"I've also got to be more consistent. I've always given everything for the team and I hope people can see that. A great deal of it is down to self-confidence and maybe I get myself down too much. But I'm convinced that as soon as I have just a bit of joy again, everything is going to fall right back into place."
Arsenal and Manchester United have been linked with a move for the former Hamburg midfielder, who represented his country at Euro 2016.