Schalke president Clemens Tonnies has revealed in a television interview his desire to beat Arsenal to the free transfer acquisition of Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.
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The Gunners, along with Chelsea and Manchester United, are interested in the Germany international according to the Mirror, but Tonnies told Sport1 that discussions have already taken place with the Khedira camp and he is hopeful a deal can be thrashed out.
He said: “We’ve spoken several times. Now it’s up to Horst Held (Schalke’s director of football) and Khedira’s agent to find a satisfactory solution.”
Arsenal will hope that their almost certain involvement in next season’s Champions League could yet give them an edge in any battle for the midfield man, whose contract expires at the end of the current campaign.
In stark contrast, Schalke look unlikely to secure a place in Europe’s top club competition for the 2015-16 season, and are likely to have to settle for Europa League football.
Arsenal, currently second in the table, have the funds to make high-profile additions to a team which yesterday earned an eighth straight Premier League victory courtesy of the 1-0 triumph over Burnley at Turf Moor.