Arsenal want Bender, but will Juventus scupper Sanchez bid?

Arsene Wenger has resurrected his interest in German holding midfielder, as Ashley Cole weighs up move to Italy

Lars Bender of Leverkusen
(Image credit: Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images))

With the Gunners rumoured to be close to agreeing deals for Alexis Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy, the Daily Telegraph believes Arsene Wenger has finally thrown off the financial shackles and also has Bayer Leverkusen midfielder in his sights.

Wenger had a £19m bid for Bender turned down last summer and the midfield man has recently signed a new contract at Bayer Leverkusen, which led many to conclude a move to north London is not on the cards anytime soon. But, the Gunners boss still sees the 25-year-old as an ideal holding midfielder to patrol the central pastures while the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil bomb forward.

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Bill Mann is a football correspondent for The Week.co.uk, scouring the world's football press daily for the popular Transfer Talk column.