Chelsea could beat Arsenal for £20m Khedira as Mourinho is urged to make 11th hour bid

Chelsea were encouraged to battle for the signature of Sami Khedira on Wednesday night as his agent claimed no deal had yet been struck with Arsenal.

Blues manager Jose Mourinho signed left-back Filipe Luis on Wednesday from Atletico Madrid for £18million and then set his sights on Germany midfielder Khedira.

Arsenal were understood to have agreed a £20million fee with Real Madrid for the 27-year-old but were struggling to match his wage demands of more than £180,000 a week.

On the move: Sami Khedira has not signed a new deal at Real Madrid and is set to leave

However, Khedira’s agent Jorg Neubauer said: ‘We are not in  talks with Arsenal. I don’t think  a fee can have been agreed, otherwise I would have been told.’

Khedira is a favourite of Mourinho’s from his time at Real and the coach is understood tothings. The same goes for Chelsea.’

Khedira is a favourite of Mourinho’s from his time at Madrid and the coach is understood to have tried to persuade him to move to Stamford Bridge.

Khedira is available as Real Madrid and his representatives have hit an impasse in negotiations over a contract extension.

Neubauer added: ‘We are talking to Real Madrid about his contract, but nothing is close to being decided. Sami has just returned from the World Cup and has gone on holiday.’

World Cup winner: The German has been linked with a move to Arsenal and Chelsea