How Wenger could strengthen his side this summer.
Arsenal are expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer as manager Arsene Wenger looks to improve on last season’s fourth place finish in the Premier League.
There are a number of key areas that needs strengthening, including a new right-back, goalkeeper and striker, but somewhere else the Gunners want to recruit is in central midfield.
Having turned down the opportunity to re-sign Cesc Fabregas from FC Barcelona, Wenger has shown that it is a more defensively minded midfielder the Frenchman wants.
This player would accompany either Aaron Ramsey or Jack Wilshere in the middle and here are five options for the 64-year-old.
Lars Bender, Bayer Leverkusen
Linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium for some time and despite stating he is unsure whether he is ready to leave Leverkusen, the North Londoners haven’t been deterred.
Bender is certainly a defensive player, who missed out on a chance to impress with Germany at the 2014 World Cup due to injury.
Source: Mirror.
Clement Grenier, Olympique Lyon
Another who is absent from the World Cup due to injury, Wenger has also been a long-term admirer of this France international and what he brings to the team.
Grenier is more of a box-to-box player who is confident going forward and the 23-year-old may be a too little took similar in style to Ramsey and Wilshere.
Source: Metro.
Sami Khedira, Real Madrid
With the Germany international about to enter the final year of his current contract at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu this could be the ideal time to land the 27-year-old.
Wenger will face stiff competition if he wants to sign Khedira however, with rivals Chelsea and Manchester United also keen on the German.
Source: Daily Star.
Morgan Schneiderlin, Southampton
This midfield ace actually replaced Grenier in the French squad when the 23-year-old suffered injury and made his World Cup debut against Ecuador in Les Bleus’ final Group E game.
Schneiderlin has been with the Saints since 2008 and having risen through the leagues with the Hampshire club has an understandably strong bond with them, but with Mauricio Pochettino, Rickie Lambert and Luke Shaw having already left St Mary’s this summer the 24-year-old could well be next.
Source: Metro.
Arturo Vidal, Juventus
Finally it’s a Juve star who’s reputation has grown incredibly over the past three years in Turin and Vidal has also been one of the standout stars of the World Cup despite his nation’s elimination from the competition on Saturday.
The Chile international is considered to be among, if not the, best box-to-box midfielder in world football and the presence of the South American would enhance any side.
Source: Independent.
SEE ALSO: The best managers in world football