Arsenal and Chelsea's hopes to land Sami Khedira have been dealt a blow thanks to Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric, who is expected to be out of action until at least the New Year after tearing a thigh muscle.
Modric tore a thigh muscle during Croatia's 1-1 draw with Italy in their Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday and he might reportedly be out for up to three or four months, although the European champions said on Monday that they were refusing to place a time-frame on his recovery.
German international Khedira has found himself out of favour at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first four months of the campaign, with Modric and Toni Kroos being used as coach Carlo Ancelotti's preferred midfield pairing, The Mirror reported.
Indeed, Khedira has made only six appearances and only once started a match for the side this season.
Both Arsenal and Jose Mourinho's league leaders have been keeping tabs on the former Stuttgart man, whose contract expires next summer. And both have been linked with possible moves in January.
However, Modric's injury leaves Real with only Khedira and Asier Illarramnedi, himself having struggled with injury in the last few months, as first-team ready replacements, the report added.