The players Wenger is looking at to fill the defensive midfield position.
It has been an indifferent season for Arsenal in 2013/14 as the joy of ending their trophy drought by winning the FA Cup was dampened by their Premier League form.
Although the Gunners qualified for the Champions League for a 17th consecutive year under manager Arsene Wenger, they also topped the English top tier for more days than any other side and yet eventually finished fourth.
Therefore Wenger is expected to enter the transfer market in a big way this summer, with some priority positions for new signings.
One of those areas is defensive midfield, as there are doubts creeping in over the credentials of vice-captain Mikel Arteta in the role.
So here are five players Wenger is looking to sign.
Lars Bender, Bayer Leverkusen
Appears to be the preferred choice of Wenger, but convincing the 25-year-old to leave Leverkusen is where the problems arise.
Bender has expressed the view that he’s not sure he’s ready to move on yet, but as an established figure for Germany and in the Champions League the midfielder could be the ideal acquisition.
Source: Daily Express.
Ilkay Gundogan, Borussia Dortmund
Despite having only recently signed a new deal with Dortmund, speculation surrounding the future of Gundogan at the Signal Iduna Park continues to rage on.
The 23-year-old is more of a box-to-box midfield player than being solely defensively minded, but the German could bring a new dynamic to the team.
Source: Daily Mail.
Javi Martinez, Bayern Munich
Sticking with the Bundesliga and despite having won the German league with a record six games to spare this term and being managed by maverick head coach Pep Guardiola, several Bayern stars are being linked with transfers.
Martinez is a versatile player who can also operate as a centre-back, but the Spaniard’s best position still remains just in front of the back four and allowing the more creative players to shine.
Source: Telegraph.
Morgan Schneiderlin, Southampton
Wenger is a big fan of this fellow Frenchman, who has grown in stature as the Saints have after joining the Hampshire club back in 2008 when they were still in League One.
Schneiderlin has openly admitted he wants to be playing Champions League football and the north Londoners would be willing to oblige.
Source: Liverpool Echo.
Alex Song, FC Barcelona
Finally, this former star of the Emirates Stadium has found life in Catalonia less than rosy since a £16m transfer from the English capital back in 2012.
Competing with the likes of Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi for a place in the starting XI has seen Song’s opportunities limited and Barca would be open to selling the Cameroon international.
Source: Mirror.
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