Emirates Stadium side chase Mikel Arteta replacment.
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Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign long term target Lars Bender with the Metro claiming that the Gunners are to offer £17m for the Bayer Leverkusen man.
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The German international is seen as a replacement for off-form midfielder Mikel Arteta and having failed with an opening bid of £15m the north London club will hope an increased offer will land the 24 year old.
One imagines the chances of securing the services of the box to box performer will increase if his side fail to secure a top four finish, with Bayer Leverkusen currently just one point clear of fifth placed Wolfsburg in a situation not unlike Arsenal’s push to beat Everton to a similar Premier League finish.
Bender is into his fifth season at the BayArena side and could be ready for a fresh challenge and is likely to be just one of a number of targets on Arsene Wenger’s wish-list with the Frenchman set to be handed a £70m transfer war-chest.
The presence of national team colleagues Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker could further motivate Bender into moving to Arsenal this summer.
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