Arsenal are baulking at the total cost of a swoop for Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.
Having
landed marquee signing Alexis Sanchez, the Gunners will now turn their
attentions to signing a holding defensive midfielder.
Khedira, who has just 12 months let on his contract at Real, features highly on Arsene Wenger's midfield hit list.
Head boy: Sami Khedira is on Arsenal's radar but the Gunners could baulk at the £20m-plus asking price
Moving on: Khedira could play alongside Mesut Ozil next season and, right, the German in action against Brazil
The club have made enquiries to gauge the cost of a deal for Khedira. And despite the German remaining a target, the financial outlay attached to the deal has cast doubt on a potential move.
The 27-year-old could cost in-excess of £20million despite the fact he has just 12 months left to run on his Madrid contract.
In addition, Khedira is understood to want at least £150,000-per-week, a
package that would make him Arsenal's best paid player.
Arsenal
have the financial capacity to complete such a move but committing
£60million (including wages) to land Sanchez has taken a significant sum
out of Arsene Wenger's transfer budget.
Star man: Chile international Alexis Sanchez completed his £30million move to Arsenal on Thursday
Likewise,
the Gunners have also agreed to pay Newcastle £11million for right-back
Mathieu Debuchy. And with a new goalkeeper, centre-back and striker
still on Wenger's radar, a move for Khedira could prove a step too far.
Wenger
is also hugely interested in Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender.
And a move for the Germany international is likely to have less strain
on the club's finances.
Gunners
chiefs have already made contact with Leverkusen executives about their
interest in Bender. Should a move for Khedira or Bender not
materialise, Arsenal will turn to Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin in
their search for a new central midfielder.
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