Sami Khedira to Arsenal: Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil attempt to persuade Khedira to join Gunners over Jose Mourinho's Chelsea
Arsenal's German contingent could prove pivotal in the pursuit of World Cup winner Khedira
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Per Mertesacker and Mesut Özil have urged Sami Khedira to join them at Arsenal as the Germany international looks increasingly likely to leave Real Madrid.
Khedira is out of contact at the end of the season, but Arsenal have been linked with a move for the World Cup winner in January in an attempt to strengthen their Premier League title challenge that is already in danger of dying out.
With Mertesacker, Özil and Lukas Podolski all international team-mates of Khedira, the Evening Standard reports that the North London club could look to use the connection to their benefit in an effort to beat Chelsea to the signing of Khedira – and even convince him to take a pay-cut.
Chelsea are preparing to offer Khedira a pre-contract in January that would see him join the Blues in the summer, but the Gunners are hopeful of getting one over their London rivals, who beat them 2-0 a fortnight ago at Stamford Bridge.
But Madrid would prefer to cash-in during the January transfer window rather than let one of their star players join Chelsea for free — and would even consider accepting less than the £12million Arsenal offered last summer for the player.
That deal fell through because of Khedira’s wage demands, thought to be in excess of £150,000-a-week. But Mertesacker and Ozil have remained in contact and it is understood he would even consider relaxing his personal terms rather than miss out on an Emirates move for a second time.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have been linked with an £8million move for Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk.
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