Real Madrid to sign Chelsea target Khedira

Fresh from picking up his bronze medal at South Africa 2010, word reaches IBWM tonight that German midfielder Sami Khedira has asked his representatives to complete a deal with Real Madrid.

Spanish newspaper Marca have confirmed this evening that Real have made a bid of 8 million euros for the player, and are prepared to offer up to 15m to get their man.

Jose Mourinho had originally identified Liverpool's Steven Gerrard as a a priority signing for his new Real Madrid midfield, but is understood to have agreed to compromise on this with Gerrards age and the financial implications of the transfer -  with a fee upwards of £30m being mooted - proving prohibitive.

Khedira had been identified by the English media as being high on the shopping list of Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, and with good reason.  

At 23, Khedira has already proved a more than competent replacement for Michael Ballack at international level and with Ancelotti given a brief to reduce the average age of his Chelsea squad, the Stuttgart midfielder certainly fits in with Roman Abramovich's plans.  

Khedira, with just one year left on his contract at Stuttgart has made his intentions clear though and is set to join Real this week.

Spurs bid accepted for Arsenal and Manchester United target Kjaer

Just as Arsenal seemed to have been on the verge of nipping in, Sky Italia have confirmed tonight that Tottenham Hotspur's bid for Palermo's Danish defender Simon Kjaer has been accepted.

Simon Kjaer

Whether Spurs actually know anything about this bid yet is open to conjecture, but the story was running at the weekend without denial from London and the Italian media are fairly convinced that a double deal for Kjaer and Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani will go through...........but Inter Milan could still step in.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and City were all linked with the big blond stopper, but Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini is clear on who has got in first........unless he's just hiking the stakes for Internazionale at the last minute, which just wouldn't be cricket, would it;

"Tottenham have bid €35m, an offer we cannot refuse, seeing as the two players have both said they want to leave," said Zamprini on Monday.

Both players certainly fit the current Spurs identikit; with central defenders Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate spending most of their lives on the treatment table, the signing of Kjaer, one of the worlds most highly rated defenders aged just 21, would be a significant coup.  In addition, Uruguay forward Cavani, who scored 13 Serie A goals last season, will bring further firepower to the Tottenham ranks.

Edinson Cavani

Kjaer has been a huge success this season for Palermo, who like Udinese and Sevilla have targeted the worlds rising youngsters over the last few years with a view to developing and selling on for a tidy profit.  The young Dane had already passed a trial at Real Madrid in 2007, but his club, FC Midtjylland, turned down the Madristas offer.

23-year old Cavani first arrived in Italy from Montevideo club Danubio in January 2007 and has developed well at Palermo.  Fairly tricky and a good mover at over 6 foot tall, Cavani looks the type of player that will thrive in an attacking team.  Whether he can dance like a robot is not yet known.

IBWM rates both, so fingers crossed for you Spurs fans, these are excellent players, primed for the Champions League........just hope Inter are sleeping.........