Everton are set to miss out on long-term target Sami Khedira with the Juventus midfielder set to complete a move to Hertha Berlin today, according to various sources.
Kicker and Bild [via Bulinews] are reporting that the 33-year-old is having a medical today ahead of a move to the Olympiastadion and will join on a free transfer from the Italian giants.
The 2014 World Cup winner and former Germany international is expected to put pen to paper on a deal that will keep him in the German capital until 2023.
Khedira was frozen out of Andrea Pirlo’s plans at Juventus and was not registered in Juve’s Serie A or Champions League squad.
The Scudetto holders were keen to shift Khedira’s high wages off of their books, opening the door for a cheap deal for the experienced midfielder.
Everton were linked closely for some time with the German veteran, owing in part to his closeness with Carlo Ancelotti.
The pair worked together closely at Real Madrid, where Khedira was a mainstay of Ancelotti’s trophy-laden spell in the Spanish capital.
A senior official at Hertha confirmed a deal was close on Sunday:
“We are talking to him, there are a few things to clear up and a few questions to answer before Monday at 6pm [German time],” when the transfer window closes, Hertha CEO Carsten Schmidt told Sky Germany.
Read Everton Verdict
A deal for Khedira would have been a bargain, but Ancelotti will have to make do without further central reinforcements.
There is a silver lining: Everton are well-stocked in the middle of the park.
Boasting Andre Gomes, Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Tom Davies and Gylfi Sigurdsson among other options, there is a chance that someone would be thrown under the bus to make way for Khedira.
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