Arsenal have moved ahead in their plans to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Lars Bender, according to reports.
The Gunners have a suffered a plethora of injuries this season, with Francis Coquelin the latest player to pass through the revolving door leading to the treatment room at the Emirates Stadium.
As a result, with Coquelin out for a couple of months with a knee injury, Arsene Wenger is making plans to scout possible reinforcements.
This is where Bender could come in, with the London Evening Standard claiming he is top of a list of possible January targets.
Wenger admitted that he will need to dip into the transfer market, when it reopens.
“I’ll do what’s needed in January even though in January it is not an ideal transfer market,” Wenger said.
“I love a bargain, who doesn’t! What is for us a bargain is to buy a player of top quality because only top quality strengthens our squad.”
Odds on the German international moving to North London have slipped, with BetVictor cutting from 12/1 down to 6/1 that the move will happen.
By Steve Osborne             @BlizzardSteve75
