Arsenal close on Ospina and Khedira captures

Jamie Clark | 14.07.2014

Arsenal, now 13/2 with Coral for the Premier League title, are set to swiftly supplement the signing of Chile forward Alexis Sanchez with swoops for Colombia keeper David Ospina and Germany midfielder Sami Khedira.

The Gunners are also close to finalising France full back Mathieu Debuchy’s move from Newcastle United. Nice stopper Ospina, 25, could be set for a cut-price £3m switch to the Emirates, while World Cup winner Khedira is heavily linked with a £23m transfer from Real Madrid.

Arsene Wenger has no senior backup to number one Wojciech Szczesny, after Lukasz Fabianski joined Swansea City on a free transfer and Italian custodian Emiliano Viviano returned to parent club Palermo after a loan spell in north London.

Natural holding midfield options, meanwhile, are limited to French pair Mathieu Flamini and Abou Diaby, who has struggled with injuries throughout his Arsenal career. Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, has been linked with a move away from the Emirates.

Khedira’s imminent capture frees up wages and squad space at the Bernabeu for Real to complete their swoop for his compatriot Toni Kroos. The Bayern Munich player has claimed a £20m deal to join the Champions League winners is done, though Madrid are yet to confirm his signing.

Although he missed the World Cup final after picking up a calf problem in the warm-up, Khedira is set to join German teammates Per Metesacker, Lukas Podolski and good friend Mesut Ozil at the Gunners.

Rumours of late interest from Chelsea, motivated by the player’s old manager from Madrid, Jose Mourinho, are unlikely to scupper this move to Arsenal. The Blues re-signed Nemanja Matic from Benfica in January, and have since added Cesc Fabregas to midfield, so it is difficult to see where Khedira, 6/1 to join Stamford Bridge, would fit into their plans.

Should he conclude his transfer business quickly, Wenger looks well-placed to challenge for the Champions League, and is a tempting 25/1 to steer the Gunners to glory in Europe’s elite continental competition.