Gunners set to launch ambitious bid for Sami Khedira…
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Arsenal will use some of their reported £100m summer transfer budget to tempt Real Madrid into selling world-class German Sami Khedira, claims the Mirror.
The holding midfielder has struggled badly with injuries this season, but still managed to make the starting XI for Saturday night’s Champions League final. Although Carlo Ancelotti withdrew him for the more creative Isco, Khedira provided a solid platform from which the rest of the side could perform, despite not being fully fit.
In the English media, Khedira shot to prominence four years ago, as Germany totally outclassed England in the World Cup Round of 16.
Now aged 27, Khedira is nearing his prime, and would likely be a stalwart in Real Madrid’s side if injuries hadn’t ravaged his career.
Real Madrid currently deploy either Luka Modric or Xabi Alonso (normally both) as central midfield options, with Ancelotti preferring not to play a genuine anchorman unless he’s playing against a seriously good opponent.
Even though Khedira is not a guaranteed starter, £15m seems very cheap for a player of Khedira’s undoubted ability.
Although he is creatively limited, the German is a superb tackler, makes regular interceptions, and positions himself correctly as well in the base of the midfield.
In this respect, he seems like the perfect Jose Mourinho midfielder, and Khedira did win La Liga with the Portuguese maverick during the manager’s stay in Spain…
However, with Nemanja Matic arguably already a better player than Khedira, and box-to-box dynamo Ramires available, it seems as though the defensive midfield position is not somewhere that needs to especially be strengthened at Stamford Bridge.
Likely instead, the Blues will prioritise a deal for a striker, with 36 goal Diego Costa expected to sign before the World Cup.
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