Arsene Wenger rubbished reports suggesting a deal has been agreed with Real Madrid for the transfer of midfielder Nuri Sahin.
Sahin, 23, moved to the Santiago Bernabeu last summer from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and has since then struggled to make his way into the starting line up for Real Madrid. The Turkish international managed 10 appearances for the Los Blancos and manager Jose Mourinho has urged him to consider offers so as to get more time on the field.
“I want to be honest and Sahin is living in this grey zone because the market is open,” Mourinho told Marca.
“If the possibility arises for him to go to another place it would be better for him to leave and to be able to have more minutes on the pitch.”
However, contrary to the reports Wenger declined having signed the midfielder and claimed that he is not close to signing any player presently. Malaga star Santi Cazorla is also in the Frenchman’s scheme of things but the Gunners boss termed the news as false.
“We did not sign anybody today, this report is wrong. We are not signing anybody at the moment – we are not close. In the future you never know.”