Wenger sets sights on another big signing in January.
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Arsenal are reportedly set to make a bid of £20m to Bayer Leverkusen for the services of midfielder Lars Bender this January, according to the Daily Star.
The Gunners had a bid of around £18.5m for Bender rejected by Leverkusen during the summer, but Arsene Wenger is ready to come back with an improved offer as he seeks to shore up his side’s midfield when the transfer window re-opens.
Arsenal have been somewhat short in that position since last summer’s sale of Alex Song to Barcelona, with Mathieu Flamini brought in on a free transfer as something of an emergency measure this season.
Although Flamini has performed surprisingly well for Wenger’s side, the French tactician is still keen to bring in Bender, who at 24 years of age is a more long-term solution in that area of the pitch, as well as providing a little more in terms of quality going forward.
Wenger is enjoying the access to more funds at the Emirates Stadium, and wants to continue spending after smashing the club’s transfer record for Mesut Ozil in the summer, and it seems that more German stars could be on the agenda, with the likes of Marco Reus also being linked with the Gunners.