Arsene Wenger is on alert following Borussia Dortmund offering German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan a contract ultimatum.

According to The Mirror, the Gunners are ready to prepare a bid of around £16million to secure the services of the midfielder.

Wenger has been known to be an admirer of Gundogan in the past, so much so, in fact, he has been linked to him a number of times in the past.

Dortmund are trying to get Gundogan to sign a new deal at the club, seeing as his current one runs out in eighteen months, otherwise they are preparing to sell him off in the summer.

However, agents are now apparently looking at potential clubs to make an offer in January, with Arsenal monitoring the situation closely.

German media are leading with stories to the extent Gundogan would prefer a move to the Premier League instead of renewing his current contract. This could well work in Arsenal’s favour, who are in desperate need of a new defensive midfielder following the injuries to Arteta and Flamini.

A major stumbling block in this however is the fact Borussia do not want to see another one of their start players leave the club. Dortmund have lost Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski in successive years and they are refusing to let any start players leave the club.

Something that also comes into question is the fitness of the German midfielder. Gundogan has only recently returned from a 14 month injury, which saw him miss the World Cup in Brazil. He is undoubtedly rusty and not match fit after such a lengthy layoff, something which Wenger may find a disincentive to buy.

Arsenal are in line to buy this January with defender Winston Reid heavily linked to the club. New rumours are circulating that Adrien Rabiot has become a target for the Gunners too, following reports he may be allowed to leave PSG on loan.

I’m sure this news of Gundogan will excite Gooners out there, but it is still early doors. Yes he would be a great signing for the club, so let’s hope Wenger moves forward and tries to capture him.