Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Lars Bender, Pedro and Top January Targets

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger replacing Patrick Vieira has been an idea nearly 10 years in the making. However, long-suffering Gunners fans could soon finally get their wish to again see a powerful mainstay at the heart of midfield.

Wenger has apparently begun talks to sign German midfield enforcer Lars Bender, a long-time Gunners target. He's a player Arsenal certainly need. The same can't be said for Barcelona forward Pedro, who remains on Wenger's radar, despite a plethora of players already at this position.

Beginning with Bender, the 25-year-old Bayer 04 Leverkusen man could answer Arsenal's painfully obvious need for some physicality and defensive nous in midfield. Both qualities are sorely lacking among the current Gunners contingent and have been since Wenger sold Vieira to Juventus in 2005.

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That point was made clear when Wenger bemoaned his side's inability to win key tackles during the recent 2-1 Premier League defeat to Swansea City, per Sky Sports:

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I think it's difficult to explain how we lost the lead as we were in control and they didn't give up. I thought we lost some decisive challenges in the middle of the park in the last 20 minutes and we paid for that costly and that's where we lost the battle.

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That's one of the more explicit admissions from Wenger that his squad lacks a destructive presence. It's a view reportedly prompting him to revisit a move for Bender, per Catalan newspaper Sport (h/t Sport Witness):

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The claim comes from Catalan newspaper Sport which should always prompt caution. They're covering it because they reckon Barcelona have an interest in the player if they decide that Koke isn't the man they want or would like a cheaper option. You'll have to ignore that the two players are poles apart in terms of style for the purpose of this exercise.

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It's claimed Arsenal have inquired about the player's 'situation' in recent weeks, which should mean they've asked Bayer Leverkusen if they can buy him but in the current transfer climate probably means that they've spoken to the player's agents to see how up for it he is. That's the gist anyway.

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The same report concluded that Bender is contracted to the Bundesliga outfit until 2019 and valued at close to €30 million, probably making a deal in the summer the most likely option.

However, this is far from the first time Arsenal have expressed interest in Bender. Back in July 2013, Leverkusen turned down a £20 million offer from the Gunners, according to German publication Express.DE (h/t Majid Mohamed of The Independent).

There's no mystery as to why Wenger is so keen. Bender is a strong tackler, at his best at the base of midfield, just in front of the back four.

He also boasts ample energy, along with the intelligence to push forward when the situation merits. It's fair to say few, if any, players in the current Arsenal midfield combine those qualities.

Wenger is likely going to look again at Bender, following news that another top target, Real Madrid's Sami Khedira, will reject a move from La Liga in January, per Daily Express reporter Jamie Anderson:

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German sources claim the veteran French manager will resume his interest in Bayer Leverkusen star Lars Bender because Khedira is likely to pen a new deal at the Bernabeu.

The news of the midfielder's impending contract extension is a bitter blow to the Premier League trio who had hoped the 27-year-old would consider a change of scenery.

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Whether Wenger moves for Bender in January or this summer, it seems clear his interest in the Germany international hasn't waned. It's equally clear that the Gunners still need a robust and physical player in the middle.

Arsenal's need for Pedro is less clear, despite the Spaniard's obvious talent. The 27-year-old has been on the fringes of the Barca starting 11 all season, while youngster Munir El Haddadi has impressed.

It seems Pedro is becoming impatient with that arrangement, at least according to Daily Express reporter Anthony Chapman: "The coach is giving me a lot of confidence and he speaks to me even though I'm not getting in the team. I know it's hard to play at Barcelona, so I will continue to give my all and do well."

Chapman takes those words as a definite indicator Pedro is unhappy and ready to move, suggesting the Gunners can land their man for £26 million this January.

The problem with that mooted scenario is two-fold. First, Wenger will reportedly only receive £20 million to bolster his ailing squad this winter, per Daily Mirror reporter John Cross.

Although he could sell players to swell the coffers, there's a bigger problem with the idea of signing Pedro. Whatever else their problems may be, the Gunners are certainly not short of wide forwards.

Wenger has Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Serge Gnabry and Pedro's former Barca teammate, Alexis Sanchez at his disposal. He could even push ex-Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck out wide.

As Arsenal's leading light, Sanchez is going to play. But signing Pedro would almost certainly consign Walcott and Chamberlain, two players Wenger rates highly, to the bench.

Pedro has the pace, movement and composed finishing to be a major asset in the style of football Wenger preaches. He also formed a fine double act with Sanchez last season.

However, Arsenal simply have too many players at his position, along with greater needs elsewhere.

Chief among those needs is an extra centre-back. The Gunners may have received a boost in this area, involving West Ham United's Winston Reid.

The combative New Zealand defender is out of contract this summer and the Hammers will sell this winter if Reid refuses a new deal, per The Times (h/t Daily Mirror reporter Liam Prenderville):

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West Ham have reportedly set a deadline of January for defender Winston Reid to sign a new deal.

The New Zealander will be out of contract at the end of the season and Hammers chiefs would rather sell him than let him go on a free.

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Both Arsenal and Manchester United have been linked in recent times with both clubs short of options at the back.

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While Reid is a solid defender, Arsenal are perhaps in danger of letting desperation rule common sense in the transfer market. Reid is nothing more than solid and has also struggled to stay fit in recent seasons.

What Wenger really needs is a marquee addition to his central defensive ranks, one who will seriously push incumbents Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny. Reid, despite his welcome Premier League experience, may not be that player.

Of course, there probably aren't many competent centre-backs Arsenal fans wouldn't welcome at the moment. Ex-Gunners defensive mainstay Nigel Winterburn believes Wenger needs to not only add fresh talent at the back but also look at the way his team defends, per Sky Sports:

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They’ve been caught out because Debuchy has been out injured for a long time and, at the moment, Koscielny is out, so it’s left them short. Wenger may have taken the gamble on Calum Chambers, who can play in both positions, but what they didn’t plan for was that two of them are out for a prolonged period of time. They do need a centre-half, that’s for sure.

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Two thirds of the transfer rumours currently involving Arsenal at least see the club focused in the right areas. An extra centre-back and a defensive midfielder have to be Wenger's priorities this winter, with the latter arguably the more pressing need.