Arsenal is going to make the signing of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender their first summer signing as they look to add a physical presence to midfield and see the beefy German as the man to take over from the 32-year-old Spaniard Mikel Arteta says the Daily Mirror.
The signing of Bender would be yet another German player in the Gunners side to play alongside his international teammates Mesut Özil, Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Serge Gnabry.
What Wenger has been looking for is a player that can accept the role of midfield general while also being no pushover when it comes to defensive duties either.
Wenger tried to buy the 24-year-old last summer but could not pursued the Bundesliga club to sell , and now that Ilkay Gundogan has signed a new contract with Borussia Dortmund Bender is the Gunners best option but may cost as much as £20 million.
