Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Sami Khedira and Edinson Cavani Rumours

Arsenal look set to face an array of competition if they’re to land Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira this summer, with Schalke 04 becoming the latest club to note their interest in the Germany international.

Khedira is out of contract at the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season and will be available on a free transfer. As noted by Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star, the player is on the radar of the Gunners, Manchester United and Liverpool, but Schalke boss Roberto Di Matteo was open about his intentions to sign the German.

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“Sami Khedira? We all know he’s a great player,” said the former Chelsea boss, per Malata's piece. “If he wants to join us, our doors are open to him. He’s a world-class footballer.”

Here’s a look at why the Los Blancos star would be a steal on a free transfer:

If the Gunners aren’t interested in bringing a player of Khedira’s quality to the Emirates, then it’d be a major faux pas on the part of Arsene Wenger. As their meek surrender against Monaco illustrated in earnest recently, it’s absolutely imperative that his team bolsters the base of their midfield and Khedira has all the qualities needed to make a major impact in that area.

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The former Stuttgart man is quick across the ground, is superb at anticipating danger and ferocious in the tackle. Plus, he’s an astute distributor of the ball too, something that will surely appeal to Wenger and his technical principles.

Despite his obvious quality, according to Bundesliga pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft the Gunners have registered their interest but will not make a move for the player:

Barring a remarkable turn of events Khedira looks poised for a Santiago Bernabeu exit and will surely have a host of elite clubs looking at him. But there are few places on the continent where he would make quite as significant a difference to a team than at Arsenal and that’s something Wenger must consider if the German is available.

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Another facet of the Gunners’ play that left much to be desired against Monaco was their finishing and that makes reports linking the club with a potential move for Edinson Cavani very intriguing.

According to Jonathan Green of the Daily Star, the Uruguayan will definitely be leaving Paris Saint-Germain this summer, with Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Juventus all apparently interested. Here’s a glimpse at why:

Green goes on to say that a bid of circa £45 million would be enough to prise the striker away from the Parc des Princes and Atletico are willing to sell key players Mario Mandzukic and Arda Turan to bring him in. While those aforementioned suggestions do seem to be a little peculiar, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the Gunners will face immense competition if they want Cavani.

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But if Wenger is after a forensically accurate finisher to gobble up chances created by the likes of Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, then the Uruguayan probably isn’t the man, per WhoScored.com:

The former Napoli man is a rumbustious, willing centre-forward and a player who would certainly provide a much more rounded edge to Arsenal at the point of the attack. But it’s difficult to see Wenger splashing out £45 million on a player who is 28 years old and yet to fully establish himself in one of the elite European leagues.

Nonetheless, Cavani is a fine player and someone who will naturally command a lot of interest should the Parisians choose to sell. But with Wenger’s entrenched mantras on incoming players considered and the club’s desperate need to bolster other areas of the squad, this is a deal that looks very unlikely to come to fruition.