Arsene Wenger has had his sights set on Bayern Munich frontman Mario Mandzukic, since the news broke that the German champions had picked up one of the world’s best strikers from rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Die Roten get their man

Mandzukic has managed 35 goals in 65 appearances for the German outfit, as well as 13 goals for his country. However, after news finally broke that Munich had completed the signing of long-term target Robert Lewandowski this week, Arsenal were put on red alert.

Lewandowski is one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe, and is one of only two players to have scored more goals than Mandzukic in the Bundesliga this season. There have been countless rumours of him following Dortmund’s former star man Mario Gotze to  bitter rivals Bayern, with “pre contract agreements” supposedly signed months ago.

It was made official yesterday that Lewandowski would indeed be making the sinful switch between the country’s biggest rivals, which sparked a media frenzy over the availability of the Croat.

Mandzukic faces competition from the likes of Ivica Olic, Nikica Jelavic, Mladen Petric and former Arsenal man Eduardo if he is to lead the line in next year’s World Cup in Brazil , and so could leave in search of first team football if Lewandowski does (as expected) take his place.

And with Arsenal currently screaming out for a new striker due to the injuries to Oliver Giroud and Nicklas Bendtner, Mandzuic could find that a move to North London would be beneficial.

No-go-Mario

However those dreams were all but shattered today as Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge claimed that Mandzukic was a key component in boss Pep Guardiola’s plans and would not be going anywhere in January OR the Summer.

"We're very happy with Mario. He made a major contribution to us winning so many titles last year.

"He's a fantastic player who has come on leaps and bounds with Bayern.

"We have absolutely no intention of selling Mario. His contract runs until 2016 and I told his advisor that we would we be willing to talk about an extension."

Mandzukic currently only has to compete with 35-year-old Claudio Pizzaro and 19-year-old Patrick Weihrauch for the centre-forward role, however that Lewandowski is likely to take up that position with ease, with Guardiola almost certain not to change his formational strategies.

Yet Rummenigge was quick to quash and rumours, claiming that the transfer window always sparks rumours from England:

"There's always lots of speculation and it's extreme in England, but I can say for certain that he is not an issue for us.

"I personally hope that Holger Badstuber comes back from injury. That would be a new arrival who would do Bayern a lot of good."

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