Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Lars Bender and Antonio Sanabria Rumours

Former Liverpool player Dietmar Hamann has urged Arsenal to solve the longstanding issues at the base of their midfield by signing Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender in the January transfer window. 

The 2005 Champions League winner—who also branded the Gunners as “soft,” per Simon Mullock of the Mirror—thinks that Arsene Wenger has failed to replace inspirational skipper Patrick Vieira ever since he left the Emirates and has encouraged the club to move for the German international:

"

There are players out there, who would instantly make Arsenal a better team. They are supposed to be looking at Ilkay Gundogan at Borussia Dortmund. He’s a very good footballer – but he’s a typical Arsenal player.

He won’t want to do the dirty work. His instinct is to join in further up the pitch, get a few forward passes going and try to weigh in with a few goals.

For me, Arsenal would be much better served, going for one of the Bender brothers, especially Lars.

"

Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images

Here’s a look at what the 25-year-old midfielder would add to the core of this Arsenal team:

It’s very difficult to argue with Hamann’s assessment of the personnel available to the Gunners and his potential choice of a solution. Bender has all the requisite attributes to shore up Arsenal in central areas and after six years at a Leverkusen side that have scarcely challenged at the pinnacle of German and European football, perhaps he could be lured away by a new challenge.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

As we can see here courtesy of Bleacher Report’s Jack Lusby, Bender ranks pretty highly among Europe’s midfield destroyers:

The issue for Arsenal will be prising him away from Leverkusen in the midseason window. He has a contract with the club up until 2019 and with the Bundesliga side looking as though they’ll face a fight for a Champions League spot this season, the club’s willingness to keep hold of their man is completely understandable.

With that in mind, Arsenal may look to other defensive midfield targets in January. Cruzeiro’s Lucas Silva has been touted as a potential option; Bleacher Report’s James McNicholas runs the rule over him here:

Bender is a class above Silva, though. Not only is he a player who bristles with defensive vim, but his unrelenting energy and ability to surge forward with the ball make him not far off a complete midfielder status. If Arsenal are looking to address that area of the pitch in the long term, the Bayer man should be a major target in the summer.

Wenger has never been one to splash the cash in the January window and although he’s admitted that signing a defender is imperative, per BBC Sport, those supporters expecting a big-name acquisition may not have their wishes sated; so expect young players to be drafted in or value-for-money purchases.

One young player reportedly on Arsenal's radar is AS Roma's young forward Antonio Sanabria. According to Italian newspaper Leggo (via TuttoMercatoWeb.com, h/t Vaishali Bhardwaj of Metro), the Gunners are keen on getting the youngster on board after narrowly missing out on his signature last season.

Here's a look at why he's very highly rated:

In addition, one player who may potentially represent value for money in the midseason window is Almeria winger Edgar Mendez. According to Jamie Anderson of the Express, the Gunners and Everton have both sent scouts to take a look at the 23-year-old, who according to the piece has been clocked at paces that exceed Gareth Bale.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Here’s a closer look at what he could offer:

For a reported £2 million this deal looks as though it could be a savvy one for either side. Mendez is a refreshingly direct talent and although he may struggle to make a first-team impression at Arsenal straight away, he would add a desirable raw dimension to the team’s play.

But for the time being, you suspect Everton are a side who could potentially offer the player a little more in terms of opportunities. Mendez is a player who has flourished this season because of an extended run in the Almeria first team and it’s vital he continues to get minutes and refine his somewhat capricious skill set. That means at this juncture, the Emirates may not be ideal for him.