Arsenal on Alert as Mourinho Opens Door for Sahin Exit

Arsenal's summer of rebuilding continues, and the latest rumour concerns the possible arrival of Real Madrid's Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin on a season-long loan.

The 23-year-old former Borussia Dortmund central playmaker transferred to the Santiago Bernabeu last season and was tipped to become an integral part of coach Jose Mourinho's plans for the Spanish champions. Unfortunately, Sahin was injured when he arrived in the Spanish capital and could not find enough form to force either Spain international Xabi Alonso or German midfielder Sami Khedira from the starting line-up.

Sahin has now been linked with a move away from Madrid, with a report in Spanish newspaper Marca suggesting the player could be allowed to leave temporarily, to help him rebuild form, fitness and confidence ahead of establishing himself at the Santiago Bernabeu. It is understood that Mourinho is still keen on the player and has admitted he would love to retain the youngster's services for the season. However, the former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager also admitted he would not stand in the way of the player's desire for first team football.

"The point is that he's a young boy who wants to play every match," Mourinho said in an ESPN report, "He wants to play to be happy and in Real Madrid the situation is not easy. We have great players and when you don't start well, it's difficult to do it. If he stays, he's not a problem for me. He's one more solution. We are leaving the situation in his hands. Decide what you want to decide, to be happy. If you decide to leave we're going to help you to leave. If you decide to stay, we're going to support you and try to succeed this season."

The Sun now reports that Sahin, who is with the Real Madrid squad on their pre-season tour of the US, will be released in order to attend Arsenal's private training camp in Germany. If that does happen, then it all but confirms the player's switch to the Premier League and, potentially, gives Arsene Wenger the kind of player he has sorely missed since Spanish international Cesc Fabregas rejoined Barcelona in 2011.