Bayer Leverkusen will consider letting their big names leave the club – opening the door for Arsenal to sign Lars Bender, according to the Daily Mirror via London Evening Standard.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is in the market for a defensive midfielder this January and will make a move for the 26-year-old German international in January now that Francis Coquelin has been ruled out for three months with a knee injury.
Add to this Bayer Leverkusen chairman Michael Schade recent comments that confirmed they would look to extract maximum value for any starts who want to leave
“We as Bayer Leverkusen can’t be as arrogant to say that we are creating world stars and they will retire here,” he said.
“If we are able to create a world star or international top player, then one day this player wants to play for one of the top [clubs in the world], of course. What we can do is develop him and make him as expensive as possible.”
