Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)
Arsenal could also do with reinforcements in midfield, with free transfer Mathieu Flamini being the Gunners’ only move to bring someone in for that position this summer. Although Flamini has performed well since his return to the club from AC Milan, Arsenal could arguably do with a more long-term option in that position, who also has more of an ability to link the play like Alex Song did for Wenger’s side before he left for Barcelona last summer.
Lars Bender has been linked as one of Arsenal’s main targets this January as Wenger seems likely to continue to build on the strong German contingent growing at the club, and the Bayer Leverkusen man is a great all-round player who could give Arsenal something a little extra in the middle of the park. As with Arsenal’s other main targets, Manchester United are also said to be sniffing around for the 24-year-old Germany international, and could provide stern competition to the Gunners for one of their top targets.
Bender would likely cost around £20m, and Arsenal will have to pay up to prise him away from the Bundesliga, but he certainly looks like he’d be well worth the cost.