Sahin free to leave Real Madrid

English Premier League side Arsenal is reportedly interested in signing Sahin on a season-long deal with an option to buy, but faces competition from Galatasaray for the signature of the Turkey midfielder.

Arsene Wenger's side is Sahin's preferred destination and the transfer moved a step closer when Mourinho declared he is happy for him to explore other options.

"The point is that he's a young boy who wants to play every match," the Real manager said.

"He wants to play to be happy and in Real Madrid with Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Lassana Diarra, Esteban Granero and Mesut Ozil, the situation is not easy.

"Real Madrid is very difficult. It is not an easy club, because we demand a lot.

"We have great players and when you don't start well, it's difficult to do it.

"If he stays, he's not a problem for me. He's one more solution. We are leaving the situation in his hands.

"Decide what you want to decide, to be happy. If you decide to leave we're going to help you to leave.

"If you decide to stay, we're going to support you and try to succeed this season."

Sahin joined Real for $11.9 million in 2011, after helping Borussia Dortmund win the Bundesliga title.

Injury prevented him from making his debut for the Primera Liga champion until November last year and he only made 10 appearances throughout the season, scoring once.

Arsenal's squad looks set to be strengthened by the arrival of Santi Cazorla, Malaga's attacking midfielder who is reported to have completed a medical.

Cazorla has agreed a four-year contract and the highly-rated 27-year-old Spain international is thought to have cost the side $23.7 million.

His arrival would continue a busy off-season of transfer activity at Emirates Stadium, with strikers Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud already recruited.

And the new signings could also be joined by France youth international M'Baye Niang.

Caen president Jean-Francois Fortin has revealed that Arsenal has made an official offer for Niang, after he impressed during a loan spell.

"Arsenal made me a proposition, but other clubs are interested - two in England and one in Italy," Fortin told L'Equipe.

"There will be an issue here for a fortnight before the matter is resolved."

Robin van Persie's future remains unresolved with the Netherlands striker refusing to sign a contract extension, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus all interested.