We don´t know for sure, of course, but the general consensus in the football media seems to be that the principal reason for Arsenal not going all out to complete the signing of Sami Khedira in the January transfer window was his wage demands.
There were other factors reported in various Arsenal transfer rumours, such as his current club manager Carlo Ancelotti insisting that Real Madrid were determined to keep him, play him and persuade him to sign a new contract. We also heard from rumours in Spain that the player himself was keen to prove himself to his manager and the Madrid fans, but that all sounds like bluff and bluster to me.
It now seems painfully obvious that Khedira is surplus to requirements at the Spanish giants, as he has only played 17 games for them this season. Only 10 of those were starts and he only got that many because Modric has been injured for months. So it is no surprise to see a Metro report revealing that the World Cup winning Germany international is now ready to move on when his current contract expires at the end of the season.
Khedira said, “Am I open to Schalke?’
“I am open to many teams.”
The question for Arsene Wenger now is, does he try again to bring the German to Arsenal? It would have to be on a more reasonable salary than the ridiculous amounts being mentioned in previous transfer windows. Even then I think it might not be the right move for us. Khedira has had recurring injury problems and the last thing we need is more of them.
Personally I would rather we go for Schneiderlin. How about you?