Liverpool beat Arsenal to sign Real Madrid's Nuri Sahin on a season long loan

The Reds offered to pay a larger proportion of the 23-year-old's £115,000 a week wages, swinging the deal in their favour.

 Sahin, who has 31 caps for Turkey, will undergo a medical ahead of the match against Manchester City on Sunday. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is now considering a number of other targets.

 Sahin had been expected to join Arsenal, having privately expressed a preference for the north London club.But the deal stalled when Real and Arsenal could not agree a £14m option to buy the player at the end of the loan.

 Liverpool and Real then agreed a deal, with Sahin's agent meeting Liverpool officials earlier in the week to agree terms.

 Real boss Jose Mourinho had given the go ahead for Sahin to move to the Premier League after the playmaker struggled to make an impression at the Bernabeu since a move from Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund last summer.

 Sahin signed a six-year deal with the La Liga outfit but made just 11 appearances for them last season as they won the Spanish league title.

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Arsenal close to signing Song's replacement

Arsenal are close to completing the loan signing of Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin.

 The 23-year-old, who has also been targeted by Liverpool this summer, is set to join on a season-long basis with a view to a permanent move.

 His arrival should be confirmed early next week as Arsenal look to replace Alex Song, who is on the verge of a £15m transfer to Barcelona.

 Turkey international Sahin made 11 appearances for Real last season. He joined the Spanish giants from Borussia Dortmund on a six-year contract in May 2011 but has struggled to establish himself at the Bernabeu.

 Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who worked under Real coach Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, was hopeful of pushing through a deal for Sahin last week.

 Real Madrid's former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has also attempted to persuade Sahin to move to Anfield.

 But Sahin is set to join Arsenal, who started the season with a goalless draw against Sunderland on Saturday.

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