Jose Mourinho is reportedly ready to hijack Arsenal’s move for Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.
Khedira, who is set to start for the German side in the World Cup final on Sunday, has one year left on his contract with the Champions League winners and recently rejected their offer for a contract extension. The midfielder is demanding a pay packet of £150,000-a-week, which would make him Arsenal’s highest-paid player should he side for the North-Londoners.Â
However, Mourinho is ready to get one over his old foe Arsene Wenger, according to the Daily Mirror by hijacking the Frenchman’s deal for Khedira. Khedira played under Mourinho during the Portuguese manager’s time at Real Madrid. He was a firm favourite of Mourinho’s and was one of the few players who maintained a strong relationship with him during the latter stages of his tenure in Madrid. The German midfielder even considers himself as one of ‘Mourinho’s disciples’.
Arsenal have already made enquiries about the £20million-rated former Stuttgart man. However, as mentioned ealier, Blues’ manager Jose Mourinho is ready to step in and add Khedira to a midfield that now includes new signing Cesc Fabregas. Real, who are interested in Chelsea midfielder Ramires, want to sell the German to avoid losing the 27-year-old on a free next year.
Chelsea have also been linked with Juventus star man Paul Pogba in recent weeks. Speculation intensified with the news that Pogba was in London, although the reason for his visit is still unclear. Khedira would prove a much cheaper alternative to the £60million-rated Frenchman and should Chelsea sign either of these world-class midfield maestros, it would add significant depth to an already extensive variety in midfield.
The West Londoners do not necessarily need either of Pogba or Khedira, given that they already have more than enough players to step in to that deeper midfield role alongside Nemanja Matic. The likeliness of either deal going through is still 50-50 to say the least, but should Chelsea sign the German or the Frenchman, there would be no real doubt as to whom the favourites will be going into the new Premier League season.
