Nuri Sahin (credit: Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Liverpool are favourites to win the race to sign Nuri Sahin following reports suggesting the Reds are closing in on the Real Madrid midfielder.

Sahin earlier this month reportedly rejected the chance to join Besiktas, fuelling speculation that a move to the Premier League could be on the cards.

Liverpool, along with Arsenal, have shown interest in the 23-year-old for some time, while Premier League rivals Manchester United are also believed to be keen.

Sahin has already been told he can leave the Bernabeu this season should he wish to find a new club, and reports on Tuesday had suggested the Reds were stepping up their interest in the Turkey international, in addition to Barcelona forward Cristian Tello, with Liverpool officials believed to be in Spain.

And according to reports in Spain, Los Blancos coach Jose Mourinho would prefer Sahin to join Brendan Rodgers’ side rather than move to Arsenal.

That has led to bookmakers Sky Bet on Wednesday morning making Liverpool the huge odds-on favourites to sign Sahin this month, with the former Borussia Dortmund player just 4/7 to move to Anfield before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

“He’s a young boy, he wants to play every match,” said Mourinho last week.

“He wants to be happy to play, he wants to play to be happy.”

The former Chelsea manager also said the decision of whether Sahin leaves the Spanish capital would be down to the player himself.

“Real Madrid is very difficult. It is not an easy club, because we demand a lot,” he added.

“We have great players, and when you don’t start well, it is difficult to do it.

“If he stays, he’s not a problem for me, he’s one more solution. We leave [the situation] in his hands.”

Rodgers has already insisted he will not splash out big money on players for the sake of it. He has spent £26million on signing Fabio Borini and Joe Allen from Roma and Swansea respectively, but has already admitted he is prepared to bring in loan signings.

Sahin would only be available on a season-long loan and it is believed Tello would also be a temporary signing.

“In professional and social life, I like to get value. That is just my nature and just my upbringing,” said the 39-year-old.

“I won’t pay ‘anything at all costs’ – absolutely not. If there is a player out there who can make a difference, we will do all that we possibly can to bring him to the football club.

“What I won’t be prepared to do is waste time, money and effort to bring in a player who won’t add value to the club. There have to be certain factors to make a player want to come and play for you. Unfortunately for people, money distorts the reality.

“I prefer the hungry player – those that want to succeed. Of course they will earn good money, and they will get their value and worth if they perform. I would rather work that way.”