Juventus outcast Sami Khedira has reportedly rejected Fenerbahce and Besiktas in favour of a move to Arsenal.
According to Il Bianconero, Sami Khedira has set his sights on a move to Arsenal this summer. The Juventus midfielder has already rejected offers from Turkish clubs Besiktas and Fenerbahce. And it is believed that he is waiting for the Gunners to make a move as he seeks to revive his career in the Premier League in the upcoming season.
Arsenal were linked with a move for Khedira at the end of last month. They were even willing to sign him permanently in an attempt to secure a loan deal for another top target, Daniele Rugani. But, any move right now seems unlikely as the North London giants are now focusing on other targets.
Most recently, David Luiz has been linked with a move to the Emirates. The Brazilian ace has refused to train with Chelsea and is reportedly forcing a move to Arsenal. Even though Luiz is a central defender, he can also cover the holding midfield role, which could minimise Arsenal’s need to sign a new defence-oriented midfielder like Khedira.
Besides, making a move for Luiz as well as prime target Kieran Tierney should consume however much the club has left in their pockets. That means funding a move for Khedira, who still has a two-year contract with his current employers, could be difficult, providing Arsenal sign both the players.
This could be a massive blow not just for Khedira but also for Juventus. The Bianconeri are keen to cut down on wages following the arrival of Matthijs de Ligt, Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot this summer. And the departure of the German international, in that regard, would have been quite useful. Besides, it would help Maurizio Sarri narrow down a relatively large midfield unit.
As for Khedira, himself, finding a move to a suitable destination could become a lot more difficult should Arsenal fail to propose a transfer offer. At the same time, remaining at Juventus isn’t an ideal option either, especially following the arrival of Ramsey and Rabiot.
He could, however, seek a return to Bundesliga in an attempt to redeem himself. Although it’s unlikely any top club including Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund or RB Leipzig will want to make a move for him, the German is definitely an attractive option for the likes of VfL Wolfsburg or even FC Schalke. It will be interesting to see how his transfer saga pans out at the end of the summer.
