Arsenal
Wenger – If I Wanted Sahin I Would Have Signed Him
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed he turned down the opportunity to sign Nuri Sahin, paving the way for Liverpool to snap up the Real Madrid midfielder
As we enter the final stages of the summer transfer window, Football Talk will be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest transfer news. Today, Arsene Wenger reveals he turned down Nuri Sahin.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed he turned down the opportunity to sign Nuri Sahin, paving the way for Liverpool to snap up the Real Madrid midfielder.
The Gunners, along with Liverpool, have been strongly linked with a move for the Real Madrid midfielder after he became available for loan this summer.
A transfer saga ensued with Arsenal believed to have struck a deal with Real Madrid last week, only for the Anfield club to come in with a late bid of their own.
Liverpool confirmed on Liverpoolfc.com this morning that they had agreed a deal with Real Madrid to sign the 23-year-old on a year-long loan, apparently beating Arsenal to the players signature with many Liverpool fans gloating that the player had turned down a move to the Emirates in favour of Merseyside.
However, speaking in the Sun today, Arsene Wenger has claimed he pulled out of the race to sign Sahin, leaving Liverpool as his only option.
The Frenchman said he could have signed the midfielder if he wanted to, but feels he has a very similar player in Jack Wilshere – who is close to a first team return. Wenger told the Sun:
“If we wanted to sign Sahin, we would have done it.
“Sahin is a quality player but he is not a purely defensive midfielder. We have Jack Wilshere coming back and he is a similar type of player.
“If someone top-top class turns up, completely defensive, then we will consider it.”
Despite his initial interest in Sahin, Wenger was never 100% behind the deal as he feels the team need a more defensive minded midfielder. So instead of upping their offer to match Liverpool’s, he decided to pull out of the race and concentrate on other targets.
Read more Arsenal transfer news | Liverpool transfer news
The BBC claim Sahin would have preferred a move to Arsenal due to the lure of champions league football, but after they pulled out of the running he was left with no option but to join Liverpool.
Will Arsene Wenger regret this decision? Get involved in the comments section.
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