The Turkey international will move to Emirates Stadium following a breakthrough in talks between the two clubs over a buy-out option in 12 months’ time
By Wayne Veysey
Nuri Sahin is set to join Arsenal on a season-long loan from Real Madrid in the next 24 hours.
The deal had stagnated over the terms of the buy-out option should Arsenal decide to make his contract permanent in a year’s time.
Sahin’s destination is also understood to have been a discussion point in the Luka Modric talks between Madrid and Tottenham.
But a compromise has been reached and sources have told Goal.com that Sahin will be imminently confirmed as an Arsenal player for the forthcoming campaign.
It will strengthen the midfield options of Arsene Wenger, who sanctioned the sale of Alex Song to Barcelona for £15 million on Monday and is also likely to be without Jack Wilshere for the first three months of the season through injury.
Sahin’s arrival at Emirates Stadium comes after he had agreed in principle to join Liverpool following advice from ex-Red Xabi Alonso that he would get more opportunities at Anfield.
Los Blancos were keen for Sahin to move to Merseyside after agreeing a loan fee that is believed to be higher than what Arsenal will pay, while Jose Mourinho felt that the 23-year-old could excel under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, his former protege at Chelsea.
But Arsenal’s renewed interest last week turned Sahin’s head and Liverpool withdrew their interest in signing the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder on Saturday.
Sahin is the second high-profile midfielder this summer to take a late U-turn on joining Liverpool, following Gylfi Sigurdsson, who was on the verge of a move to Anfield before signing for Tottenham.
