Nuri Sahin set for Liverpool as Arsenal end interest

Liverpool are confident of completing the loan signing of Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin on Friday after Arsenal ended their interest.

The Reds offered to pay a larger proportion of Sahin's £115,000 wages, swinging the deal in their favour.

There will also be an option to buy the player for £14m at the end of the loan.

"Hopefully in the next 24 hours we'll get some confirmation," said Reds boss Brendan Rodgers. "It's quite far [along]. He's a very good footballer."

Sahin had been expected to join Arsenal, having privately expressed a preference for the north London club but Liverpool and Real have now agreed a deal.

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.