According to reports from the Express, German World Cup winner Sami Khedira has agreed personal terms with Arsenal. Although the London based club are yet to agree a fee with Real Madrid for the 27 year old midfielder, Sami is reportedly desperate to secure a cut price fee to move to the Emirates stadium by January. While the German who has entered into the final year of his contract with the Spanish giants will be able to leave for free next summer, new reports in Spain claim that Khedira is hopeful that an agreement will soon be reached to allow him to complete the switch to join the Arsene Wenger tutored side in London and with Real Madrid president, Fioretino Perez keen to avoid losing Khedira for absolutely nothing in nine months, the clubs executive is expected to close the deal by January. The Gunners were for several months in a keenly contested race with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho for the former Stuttgart man as it was the Portuguese who signed Khedira during his reign at the Bernebeu and was then attempting a reunion.
However, with this development, Jose’s hopes have been dashed with Sami already casting his mind on Arsenal. The German is expected to bring to Arsenal a strong physical presence in the midfield which is very essential in crunchy games against any of Europe’s finest. The Gunner midfield currently boasts of very skilful and disciplined players who are easily out-muscled when faced with more rugged opponents. Although Khedira will be rivalling Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Santi Carzorla and Abou Diaby for a place in the starting line-up, his tireless runs and constant show of strength will prove essential in the present squad. In the Gunners last game against Chelsea, their midfield was continuously outmuscled by Nemaja Matic and the Arsenal fans will hope to have a rock solid midfield enforcer of their own.
Similarly, Liverpool have been put on red alert after Keita Balde Diao indicated that he is ready to quit Lazio. At barely 15, while on loan from Barcelona to the Catalan giant’s satellite club, UE Cornella, the powerful forward scored 47 goals in a single season, but since transferring to Lazio, the 19 year old striker has grown frustrated in Rome due to his lack of first team opportunities with the Serie A outfit. Diao has been under the watchful eye of Liverpool scouts since he made a couple of impressive appearances for Lazio’ senior team over the past week and it will be recalled that the Catalan born striker of Senegalese descent was disgraced out of Barca after he played a prank of putting an ice cube in a team-mate’s bed while on tour in Qatar with the youth team. Despite interest from both Manchester United and Real Madrid, the youngster moved to Lazio for just £250,000 in a deal that will see him at the Italian club till 2017.
With his present buy-out clause, the Anfield based club could get him quite cheaply and with Diao setting up team mate Hernanes to score in just his second appearance for the senior team, Rogers is convinced that the teenager has in him the quality that is currently lacking at Liverpool. Liverpool has been having serious issues in the final third this season having sold star striker, Luis Suarez this summer and his erstwhile partner Danny Sturridge nursing an injury. Brendan Rogers gambled on £16m rated Mario Ballotelli but the Italian has refused to live up to expectations. In about 6 appearances, the former Milan man has managed to get on the score sheet once. The manager might even be willing to overlook some of the Italian’s clumsiness if he was using his strength to force the ball forward or even making daring runs against the opponents defence. However, with Raheem Sterling on the verge of extending his contract with Brendan Rogers’s men, the club will be willing to start up an overhaul of their attacking options by moving on Diao by January.