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LONDON — Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign long-term target Sami Khedira after Real Madrid accepted the north London side’s £23 million bid for the German international.
Though previous attempts to complete the deal to bring the 27-year-old to the Emirates Stadium have stalled over the midfielder’s wage demands it is believed that the former Stuttgart man has accepted a compromise offer that will see him receive a salary in the region of £125 000 a week.

Arsene Wenger is tirelessly working to bring in a strong tackling holding midfielder who can replace veteran Mikel Arteta and after his initial push for Khedira collapsed the French boss turned his attention to Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin but has been encouraged by recent discussions with Khedira’s representatives.

Khedira’s close friendship with national team colleague Mesut Ozil may well prove a motivating factor, as would presumably the presence of German internationals Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker. — Soccernet.