Race for Arsenal and Liverpool Target Nuri Sahin Hotting Up

Tuesday, 14th August, 2012

Real Madrid are hoping to iron out Nuri Sahin’s future this week, according to sources in Spain.

Los Blancos want clarity on where the Turkey international will play this summer, and Sahin has a number of options which he is pondering.

The pass-master has already turned down the chance to join Besiktas, but an opportunity to head to Istanbul still exits, with Galatasaray interested.

However, it appears the English Premier League is Sahin’s most likely destination, where Arsenal and Liverpool both want the schemer.

Arsenal are believed to be in the driving seat to secure the former Borussia Dortmund man and can offer Champions League football, a factor Liverpool lack, and one which is attractive to Sahin.

But the Reds are still considered to be serious players in the race, due to Jose Mourinho’s friendship with new Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers and a word of encouragement in Sahin’s ear from Xabi Alonso.

Real Madrid are willing to loan Sahin out, although his departure may yet take the form of a permanent transfer, an option several in the corridors of power at the Bernabeu prefer; this though would still be likely to contain a buy-back clause of the sort the Spanish giants routinely use to bring young talents back to the club if they excel elsewhere.

Sahin managed just 128 minutes of playing time in La Liga last season and Mourinho understands regular first team football is needed by the midfielder to speed up his development. The Portuguese has vowed to hold the door open for the midfielder and facilitate his exit once he has settled on a destination.

Mourinho is thought to believe Sahin at present lacks the maturity required to play in Real Madrid’s engine room, though has no doubt over his ability.

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