Arsenal step-up interest in Sami Khedira after he rejects Real Madrid contract offer

Arsenal will turn their attention to Germany midfielder Sami Khedira once they finalise the signings of Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy this week.

The Gunners are in the market for a new defence-minded midfielder, with Mikel Arteta set be used sporadically next season, and Arsene Wenger believes Khedira is the perfect man for the job as he builds a squad capable of challenging on all fronts next season.

Reports in Spain claim that Arsenal have already lodged a £23m bid for the midfield lynchpin who is said to be ‘keen’ at the idea of playing under Wenger alongside his German compatriots Mesut Özil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski.

Spanish online newspaper El Confidencial also report that Spanish giants Real Madrid have ‘put Khedira up for sale’ after he rejected their offer of a contract extension.

With Bayern Munich star Toni Kroos on the verge of completing a £20m move to Madrid, it is expected that manager Carlo Ancelotti will sanction the sale of Khedira to a Premier League club who meet the European champions asking price.

Former Stuttgart midfielder Khedira is held in high regard by Gunners boss Wenger, and a serious injury coupled with the rise of Angel Di Maria in a central role now mean that the 27-year-old could be reunited with three of his World Cup finalist team-mates.

Wenger’s side, as previously revealed on Gooner Talk, are close to finalising the signings of Chile star Sanchez from Barcelona and France international Debuchy but neither will be revealed at tonight’s new Arsenal kit launch with Puma.