Arsenal’s German Contingent Encouraging Khedira To Join

The rumour of the week has to be that Khedira is on his way to join Arsenal in the next transfer window. Nope, don’t worry, you haven’t suffered a flash back to summer. This saga is beginning once again.

So let’s recap what happened in the summer. Arsenal needed defensive strengthening. Khedira seemed a good fit for an enforcing midfielder. Saga ensues. Newspapers report that he has already signed, then report that he’s renewed his Madrid contract. Then Ancelotti says it’s not happening. Arsenal buy attacking options instead. To be fair that pretty much sums up every transfer window at Arsenal if you change the other player and club. We buy something shiny rather  than the part we really need.

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So why are we back to Khedira?

Well with Arteta proving to be made of stuff only slightly stronger than paper we need a midfield general who is going to hold his position in front of the defence and offer some form of protection, because at the moment Flamini and Ramsey keep dissapearing up the pitch on some grand adventure and then realise they are actually needed in defence. And whilst I still think Flamini and Wilshere would be a better pairing exchanging Flamini for Khedira sounds very good to me. Also, having Flamini as a rotation option is pretty strong as well.

OK, so that sounds great, why’s it not happening?

Well Madrid coach Ancelotti has repeatedly denied that he wants to get rid of Khedira despite the midfielder being on the last part of his contract. This being said he is finding it incredibly difficult to secure gametime, fighting for places with Modric and Kroos in the Real Madrid set up. He is also reportedly a target for Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich, and he is even rumoured to have signed a pre-contract agreement with Bayern to join them in the summer.

However this is some good news regarding a possible move.

The German members of the squad have reportedly been trying to convince their fellow World Cup winner to join Arsenal as soon as possible, with Mertesacker recently stating that he and Ozil are encouraging Sami to look at joining the Gunners. In a Q&A the German defender stated:

"“I’m up for more quality Germans to [join] the club,” Merteacker said in a Q&A session on Wednesday evening.“Ozil and I spoke with Khedira a few times to join Arsenal. His contract is up next summer.”"

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So how hopeful can we be that we will actually sign a World Class holding midfielder in January?

Well I would currently say it’s not looking overly promising. Arsenal don’t tend to buy big in January and Wenger may feel he has enough midfielders for the moment and actually sign a defender? However getting Khedira on a free transfer next summer would be a pretty impressive coup for the North London club and I would like Wenger to push for that if at all possible. Maybe we’ll have Reid and Khedira join us for nothing in summer? That’d be nice.

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