Arsenal Prepare £23m Bid for Real Madrid's Sami Khedira

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a £23m bid to bring Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira to the Emirates, according to the Mirror.

Arsene Wenger is looking to strengthen his squad ahead of next season and has made buying a defensive midfielder a priority along with a forward and back-up goalkeeper. Khedira is viewed as a long-term replacement for Mikel Arteta, who currently occupies that position at Arsenal.

Khedira has been a key member for both club and country over the past couple of years, but suffered a serious injury last season, only to return just before the World Cup in Brazil. He is currently with the German squad and with injuries to fellow midfielders, the Real Madrid player has been drafted straight into the first XI.

Khedira, it is claimed has been told that he is surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu and is free to move to a club of his choosing.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who managed the player during his Real days, is also keen to bring the player to London. However, it seems like the Gunners boss is now looking to take the lead in the race by submitting a £23m bid for the player.

Wenger will hope that Arsenal's sizeable German contingent at the World Cup with Khedira will help turn the players head towards north London.

The Frenchman also feels that Khedira's arrival will have a positive effect on compatriot Mesut Ozil, who were also teammates and friends during the latter's time in Real.

Meanwhile, it is being reported that Mesut Ozil was a top priority target for Barcelona before they switched their attention to Luis Suarez, according to the Metro.

It is claimed that once the Suarez biting incident took place they switched targets as the Catalan club realised that Liverpool were open to the transfer of their star striker.

However, it would have been unlikely that Barcelona would have succeeded in snaring Arsenal's club-record signing just one season after his arrival.