Real Madrid and German international Sami Khedira has confirmed that he is not renewing his contract with Real Madrid, and will leave on a free transfer in the summer.

“It’s not a decision against Real Madrid. I want to start a new stage in my career and continue to grow,” Khedira told Kicker magazine.

“There’s no agreement with anyone nor do I have a preference to go anywhere at the moment. I’ve had a magnificent time in a magnificent team. I’ll do everything I can to keep helping the team in the coming weeks.”

Interest in the defensive midfielder is sure to be strong across Europe, and with Arsenal being heavily linked with signing him during last summer’s transfer window, the removal of the need to pay a transfer fee for his services should only make him more attractive as a potential recruit, this despite an injury-laden season that has restricted him to just 17 appearances for Real Madrid this season.

However, with Arsenal also being heavily linked with Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin it’s unclear if the club would opt for the German, with his history of injury problems and significantly higher salary or the Frenchman who, although comes with a transfer fee, also brings with him vital Premier League experience.

Then again, as we’ve seen in previous summers, Arsene Wenger may ignore both those options and just go with what he’s got.