According to Mirror, Arsene Wenger is preparing a 23 million pound bid for Sami Khedira. The German midfielder has been playing for Real Madrid for the past four years, and he is currently in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.
Rumors claim that Wenger wishes to strengthen his midfielder while attempting to create a positive atmosphere for Mesut Ozil. Since Real Madrid have yet to renew Khedira’s contract, which expires 30 June, 2015, a summer exit seems inevitable.
Alex Song’s departure from Arsenal in the summer of 2012 left a void in the defensive midfield. Wenger has depended on players such as Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, and Mikel Arteta to cover the empty hole.
There are two problems with this approach. Firstly, Arteta is known to face injury problems which forces Wenger to fill that position with other players. Secondly, the French manager fills the defensive midfield with creative midfielders— Ramsey and Wilshere. At the beginning of the 2013-2014 season, Ramsey was Arsenal’s most dangerous player. Not only was he assisting forwards with swift, penetrative passes, but he was topping the scoring list for Arsenal. Dropping him to a defensive role minimizes his opportunities in the the final third.
The former Stuttgart player can provide excellent coverage in front of the back four. He brings physicality and versatility. Khedira recognizes when to move up from the holding role to add offensive power. And if Arteta can stay healthy for the upcoming season, the partnership will allow Ramsey to better explore the attacking midfield area with his creative passes and accurate shots.
Khedira to Arsenal would improve the squad defensively. He adds depth to a team needing to rotate the squad due to involvement in multiple competitions; however, Arsenal do have quite a bit of midfielders in the depth chart. Arsenal fans want a striker to be signed due to the lack of depth at the front. If Oliver Giroud goes down injured, then Wenger has to depend on makeshift strikers; therefore, I would give the signing a 7 out of 10 as far as improving the squad.
Mirror is not the most reliable of sources, neither is it the worst. This strength of this rumor can be a 7 out of 10. But we all know how Wenger loves toying with our Gooner hearts with star players. Wenger and rumors say we are signing David Villa, yet we end up with Kim Kallstrom. So, instead, I give it a 6 out of 10.
It is a believable transfer news, but not enough to be completely bought in. 23 million pounds for Sami Khedira is a plausible fee. Even after his return from a long injury, Khedira maintains a competitive form in Brazil. Wenger knows not to overspend on transfers, and Real Madrid knows how to overcharge for players. If this signing is true, I can see a long negotiation between the two clubs. I think there is a 80% chance of this transfer happening.
