Sami Khedira to Arsenal Transfer: Gunners Deal Off; Wenger Targets Morgan Schneiderlin?

Germany's midfielder Sami Khedira reacts during the quarter-final football match between France and Germany at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on July 4, 2014. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

Sami Khedira may not be moving to Arsenal after all.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was said to be interested in signing the 27-year-old German international from Real Madrid, but has since changed his mind.

Khedira is supposedly asking for a £150,000-a-week (about $257,000-a-week) salary before bonuses, a figure that Wenger is baulking at.

Wenger is looking for a holding midfielder to give his midfield some steel, and could be looking to sign Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin instead.

Khedira, who has a year left on his Real Madrid contract, could still move away or be squeezed out from Real Madrid though. 

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly interested in signing Khedira, and could pursuit the World Cup winner to make the switch to Stamford Bridge.

Should Khedira not move, he will face stiff competition at the Bernabéu Stadium.

The Los Blancos have forked already out about 30 million euros ($40.6 million) for Khedira’s German compatriot Toni Kroos, and may also be spending 70 million euros ($94.7 million) to bring in Colombian World Cup star James Rodriguez from Monaco.

With Luka Modric, Xabi Alonso, Asier Illarramendi, and Isco to content with in the middle of the park, Khedira might find himself spending some time on the bench if he chooses to stay.

At 27 years of age, Khedira is in the prime of his career, and probably will not want to waste time warming the bench.