Real Madrid head coach Bernd Schuster hopes to secure the services of Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb after overcoming the initial surprise of his availability.

Hleb is expected to leave Emirates Stadium this summer after his agent confirmed he has struggled to adapt to life in the capital since moving to north London from Stuttgart in 2005.

Inter Milan were thought to be leading the race for Hleb's signature, however Real boss Schuster has confirmed the club's intention to land the Belarusian.

He told AS: "There are a couple of positions that we can improve and that needs to be strengthened to have the necessary balance.

"Over the past two months we have had a plan and we know what we want, but now Hleb has been added.

"We did not know he could leave Arsenal but in recent days it has been more positive. We were surprised that he might leave there."

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