Bayern’s Mandzukic is eyeing up a Premier League switch.
Arsenal and Chelsea are set to enter talks with the agent of Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic, who has flown into London to meet the two Premier League clubs, according to Inside Futbol.
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Despite having been in good form at the Allianz Arena since an £11m transfer from Wolfsburg in 2012, the Croatian is worried about the lack of game time he is going to get at the club next term.
That is because Bayern have already secured the services of Robert Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund and it’s likely the Poland international will jump up the pecking order.
However, the Bundesliga champions are keen to keep hold of Mandzukic and CEO Karl-Heniz Rumminegge stated back in January that the club had no intention of selling the 27-year-old.
“His contract runs until 2016 and I told his advisor in Marrakech that we would be willing to talk about an extension. We have absolutely no intention of selling Mario,” Rumminegge was quoted by Fox Sports.
In 17 league starts this season Mandzukic has managed an impressive 17 goals and in 36 appearances in all competitions the forward has 22 strikes and nine assists.
In fact since joining Bayern nearly two years ago the attacker has found the net 45 times in 76 games and it’s this form that has attracted interest from England.
The Gunners have looked light upfront this campaign, with Olivier Giroud the only recognised striker in any real form in front of goal.
Nicklas Bendtner has proved relatively ineffective once again and is expected to be sold in the summer, whilst youngster Yaya Sanogo is yet to find his form.
This is why the north London outfit have been linked with the Bayern star, although they will face competition from city rivals the Blues.
Their current striking trio of Demba Ba, Samuel Eto’o and Fernando Torres have all failed to truly impress and have all been linked with summer departures.
Mandzukic’s agent Ivan Cvjetkovic will now see which of the English sides can offer the best deal – both financially and in terms of the playing time the Croatia international will get.
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