Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Nuri Sahin Linked with Gunners

In a move that may raise doubts about the imminent return of Jack Wilshere, Arsenal are rumored to have signed Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin on a year-long loan agreement.

The 23-year-old Turkish midfielder signed a six-year deal with Real Madrid last summer, following a move from Borussia Dortmund. However, he failed to establish himself in Jose Mourinho's first team after starting the season injured, and made a total of just 10 appearances in all competitions.

Spanish Website Marca have reported that the player will "probably play next season in the Premier League" and that Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are the two possible destinations. This was after they retracted an earlier report confirming Sahin's move to the Gunners.

Meanwhile, AS are somewhat non-committal on naming a possible destination, merely revealing that (rough translation):

"

Nuri Sahin will play on loan next week in a big team in the Premier League. Real Madrid reached an agreement today with an English side to have minute midfielder next season and return in June 2013.

"

Various English publications have also reported this story, including MailOnline, ESPNsoccernet and Caughtoffside.

It is worth noting that Arsene Wenger has repeatedly stressed that he is not in the market for central midfielders, which may indicate a setback in Jack Wilshere's rehabilitation process.

It's probably too early to comment on the pros and cons of this deal, were it to happen, but if it were to turn out anything like Arsenal's last midfield loan deal, Yossi Benayoun, Gooners would have nothing to complain about.

And as a parting shot from WhoScored.com for the stats geeks, "In the 2010/11 Bundesliga season, no player created more chances for teammates than Nuri Sahin (104)."

He has two goals in 30 appearances for the Turkish national team, in addition to being the youngest player to have played and scored for the senior national team. He scored on his debut against Germany, the country of his birth, in 2005.

There is more to come on this rumor, surely...

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