Wenger in the market for players still and Sahin closes in on loan deal.

Arsene Wenger has said that the club are still pursuing new signings in this summer’s transfer window. The Frenchman has stated that he is still after one midfielder and also in the market for a defender.

Wenger told Arsenal Player:

"“We are looking to bring one more midfielder in of course, and maybe one defender as well because we still feel we are short in some positions” – Wenger on transfers."

One deal that does appear to be done is the season-long loan deal for Real Madrid’s Nuri Sahin. Sahin looked set to join Liverpool last week, but it is believed that he didn’t want to go there and that he would rather play Champions League football. Jose Mourinho has a close relationship with Brendan Rodgers having been reserve manager at Chelsea during Mourinho’s time at the club, so he was happy to accept Liverpool’s offer ahead of Arsenal’s, given the bad blood between him and Wenger from Arsenal – Chelsea games in the past. Sahin rejected Liverpool’s offer though and Mourinho had little choice but to accept Arsenal’s offer. Wenger reportedly phoned Sahin personally to persuade him to join the club and the fact he spoke German impressed Sahin. The Turkish midfielder was born in Germany and started his career at Borussia Dortmund before moving to Spain last summer. Sahin has stated his admiration of Wenger’s coaching abilities in the past, so that was another factor in choosing Arsenal ahead of Liverpool.

The deal should be completed early this week, but we know what Arsenal are like with transfers, they take forever to confirm a deal on the official website.

The defender that Wenger talked about could be Angel Rangel from Swansea, with Wenger believed to be looking for a better alternative at right back than Carl Jenkinson. I think Arsenal could potentially add 3 or 4 before the window closes, I just get that feeling. Wenger is a little more open about transfers than he was in the past. His comings in may depend on whether he can clear some deadwood though. At the bare minimum I would expect 2 more new faces before the window closes, one being Sahin and another being a defender.