Arsene Wenger has admitted that Alex Song is set to leave Arsenal for Barcelona and confirmed that Real Madrid’s Nuri Sahin is one of the player’s he is eager to sign as a replacement.

Speculation has mounted in the Spanish press that the Catalan giants are eager to add the Cameroon international to their squad after watching him at close hand in Champions League encounters over the last three years.

Until recently Arsene Wenger had denied that any such move was on the cards, but speaking to the press ahead of the first game of the season against Sunderland he finally admitted that he was ready to let the 24-year-old move.

Asked if Song would be leaving and if new signings were on the cards, the boss stated:

“Both can happen. We have 6 or 7 players in midfield, it is an area where we have much more freedom to make decisions.

“[Sahin] He is one of the players that we follow.”

It is believed that negotiations between Arsenal and Barcelona are already at an advanced stage with the Gunners holding out for a fee in the region of £15 million plus add ons.

Nuri Sahin is free to go on loan after Jose Mourinho admitted that the former Borussia Dortmund captain was surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu. It is believed that Liverpool are also eager to take the Turkish international for the year although the player is pushing for a move to London.