Nuri Sahin open to making Liverpool transfer permanent

New Liverpool midfielder Nuri Sahin feels he is a good match for manager Brendan Rodgers' football philosophy and is not ruling out the possibility of staying at the club beyond the end of his current loan deal.

It was confirmed on Saturday that Rodgers had completed the season-long loan signing of Sahin from Real Madrid, the latest stage of the manager's remodelling job at Anfield.

Rodgers was appointed after achieving success at Swansea with a dynamic playing style that Liverpool's owners hope he can make work for the Reds, and it is one which Sahin believes he is well suited to.

"The project with Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers is the best for my situation I think - that is why I am here," the Turkey international said.

"I think the style I play is the same as how the manager wants the team to play. I have settled in very well and I hope it will be the same on the pitch and that we will have a great season."

Asked about the prospect of a permanent transfer to Liverpool, Sahin said: "In football you never know.

"I am looking forward to playing this year here and after we will see."

The 23-year-old was in the stands at Anfield on Sunday to watch his new side draw 2-2 with Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City, Liverpool's most encouraging performance yet since Rodgers' arrival in the summer.

Sahin was impressed by what he saw and thinks a top-four spot should be the target for the Merseysiders, who could only finish eighth last season.

"If you watch the game against Manchester City, you see that the style the team is playing is very good and of course, Liverpool has to play in the Champions League," Sahin said.

"A big club like Liverpool has to play every year in the Champions League and we will do everything to get in the top four.

"Also there is the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League, and with the potential we have here, we can do some good things."

Sahin was strongly linked with Arsenal before making the switch to Liverpool, but he is in no doubt that he has made the right decision.

"Everything people told me about Liverpool is there, what I see now," said Sahin, who has revealed Real's ex-Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso urged him to make the move.

"It is a very big club with a huge history and I think I have made the right choice."

PA