The Daily Mail believe Arsenal will try to bring Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender to the Emirates after failing to sign the 24-year-old last summer.

Arsene Wenger and his backroom team have scouted Bender extensively, enough so that the German has left a lasting impression and Wenger believes his is the ideal player to add to Gunners midfielder.

Younger man needed

The 24-year-old is seen as the perfect player to complement the conveyor belt of attacking midfielders at the Emirates.

Bender was linked with a move to Arsenal last year and earlier this year it was muted that the Gunners were interested in him again.

Replacement for Arteta

The German is seen as Mikel Arteta’s replacement as the Spaniard turns 32 on Wednesday and Wenger is believed to be keen on adding a younger midfielder to his starting line up over Arteta.

Arteta has been an excellent servant for Arsenal but with Wenger’s insistence in continuing with younger players his time at the Emirates is likely to come to an end when his current contract expires.

Bender is viewed as a box-to-box player that would suit the typical English game and has the capabilities to add skill to the dirty work required.

Other alternatives?

Arsenal have also looked at other options including Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan and Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin but Bender is said to be the easier target to buy.

It now remains to be seen whether Wenger and Arsenal can finally get this deal finalised after missing out last summer.

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