Reports suggest that Arsenal may make a move for defensive midfielder Lars Bender from Bayer Leverkusen.
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According to reports in the Metro today, Arsenal are considering making a £21 million move for German international midfielder Lars Bender from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
The 25 year-old would be an impressive signing for Arsenal, who seem to lack a genuinely world class holding midfielder, with both Mike Arteta and Mathieu Flamini capable of doing a job but not to a potentially title-winning standard.
Bender would represent a huge upgrade, with the brother of Borussia Dortmund star Sven having emerged as one of the finest central midfielders in the Bundesliga since arriving at Bayer Leverkusen from 1860 Munich in 2009.
The signing of a player like Bender would confirm the change in tack from Arsene Wenger when it comes to the approach to the transfer market, backing up the huge signing of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid last summer.
Despite having been linked to countless different players this summer, Arsenal are yet to close a deal, although it may be that the World Cup is holding business up, with a number of players still in Brazil with their national teams.
Signing Bender would give Wenger enviable options in central midfielder, with Arteta, Flamini, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey fighting for two starting berths, assuming that none of them leave the club this summer.
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