Arsenal are set to lose out on the loan signing of Nuri Sahin, after Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed a move was imminent for the Real Madrid playmaker.
The Gunners were thought to be in pole position for the Turkish international, with the player preferring a move to the Emirates due to Arsenal being able to offer Champions League football.
However, the move reportedly broke down due to the Gunners' demand to push for a permanent deal, rather than a temporary one. Both Sahin and Real were not keen on the proposal, therefore allowing Liverpool, which was Jose Mourinho's first preference anyway, to take advantage.
Sahin has reportedly given the green light to his agent and his club to complete the move and a deal is expected to be inked within 24 hours.
"Hopefully in the next 24 hours we will get some confirmation on that," Rodgers said after his team's 1-0 Europa League playoff win over Hearts. "It's quite far along. He's a very good footballer."
Despite losing out on Sahin, Arsene Wenger admitted he was still trying to bring in players to the Emirates before the transfer window shuts on August 31. "Some things can still happen," the Arsenal manager said. "I don't want make a promise that I cannot keep.
"It does not only depend on me. But there still could be some action on the transfer market -- ins and outs. We are working. We'll see what we can do.
Wenger revealed he expects the signings to be made late, as is the case most of the time.
"The transfer market is open for two months and yet for one month and three weeks it is nearly closed. It wakes up completely in the last week and then every minute becomes important. Everybody has played for time for seven or eight weeks and now suddenly everyone is in a hurry. And that is when the most intense activity happens.
"We knew we had to buy (at this point) last season. We had lost Wilshere and Gibbs. We had just beaten Udinese in the Champions League but had just lost to Manchester United. This season is completely different. We have a good, stable, focused squad. We just have to show how good we are in the season.
"We have Diaby and Oxlade-Chamberlain back now while Rosicky and Wilshere are coming back. They are all international-stature players. I focus highly on that. If we get these players back in good shape then we have a very, very strong squad."
Arsenal are reportedly lining up a bid for a defensive midfielder, with the first choice still being Yann M'Vila. If that move does not materialize, Wenger will look at Ettiene Capoue or Victor Wanyama.
