Man Utd Transfer News: Madrid Playmaker Joining On Loan?

By Simon Gallagher / July 27, 2012

According to Spanish newspaper AS (via ESPN), Turkish playmaker Nuri Sahin has agreed to join a top Premier League club on loan for the coming season, with suggestions that he could be heading to either Tottenham Hotspur or north London rivals Arsenal, who rival Spanish publication Marca have also suggested as the top contender for the player. United were suggested as a possible destination for the former Borussia Dortmund player, after supposedly losing out on Lucas Moura (according to Goal.com) and looking to extend their options in central midfield. ESPN confirmed that Sahin would be allowed to move if the right move came up, with Jose Mourinho apparently implying that the player would not be in his plans after only limited first team opportunities last term:

"If there is an interesting opportunity to play elsewhere, then he can leave. Because we saw last year that he did not have minutes here."

Mourinho has also left the player out of Real's squad for their upcoming friendly with Benfica, which has added fuel to the rumours that Sahin is on the verge of a move away from the club, after a disappointing season at the Bernabeu. According to ESPN, a loan deal would be an ideal move for Sir Alex Ferguson, with only limited risk attached if the player were to disappoint, and no need to retain his services after the end of the season. New United signing Shinji Kagawa played alongside Sahin at Dortmund two years ago and according to Goal.com has offered his own endorsement of his former team-mate, whose arrival might well appeal to the club's commercial team due to the Red Devils' sponsorship links with Turkish Airlines.