Arsenal silent on midfielder link

No discussions ongoing over Nuri Sahin

By Zain Alvi | 28th July 2012

Arsene Wenger has refused to entertain speculation linking Arsenal with a move for Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin, insisting that he won’t discuss any such moves until they are finalized.

Wenger has always been cautious about publicly discussing his transfer targets until an agreement over their transfer has been reached and this summer has been no different.

After signing Lukas Podolski from Cologne and Olivier Giroud from Montpellier, the Frenchman has been linked with potential moves for the likes of Yann M’Vila, Santi Cazorla, and now Sahin.

While Sahin previously rubbished suggestions that he can join Tottenham Hotspur in a swap involving the move of Luka Modric in the opposite direction, there has been fresh speculation that the Turkish starlet may be transferred to a top English team.

The Gunners are one of the clubs reportedly interested in the 23-year old but Wenger resisted the temptation to provide any comments in his press conference following the 2-0 pre-season defeat to Manchester City in Beijing last night.

“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,” the manager clarified, confirming that there are no advanced negotiations with Real involving Sahin.

In the same interview, Wenger also indicated that he won’t be discussing the future of captain Robin van Persie in the build up to the 2012-13 campaign until it is sorted out.