Khedira has not formally requested to leave the Bernabéu but, with contract talks having broken down, Real Madrid could

Arsenal have moved into pole position to sign Sami Khedira from Real Madrid after opening negotiations over a four-year contract with the player’s representatives. The Germany midfielder has not formally requested to leave the Bernabéu, but talks over a new deal with Real have broken down and the club may choose to sell him as he has 12 months left on his contract.

Real have told Khedira that they want to keep him and he does not feature on the list of probable departures agreed by the club’s hierarchy yesterday.

Carlo Ancelotti spoke to Khedira over the phone on the Real coach’s first day back at the club for pre-season training yesterday to offer his congratulations on Germany’s World Cup win and to gauge the