Arsenal Transfer News: Benedikt Howedes Talks England Switch, Bernd Leno Rumours

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has received a boost in his hunt for some of the Bundesliga's top talents this week, with Benedikt Howedes and Bernd Leno each favouring potential moves to the Premier League.

Schalke centre-back Howedes spoke to German newspaper Bild (h/t Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express) this week, pointing out the English top flight as his preferred destination should he leave Gelsenkirchen:

"I'm fine here, but in the future I could move on. I believe that if I leave the club it won't be to remain in this league. I can imagine going abroad to gain a new experience and I think England is possibly my next destination."

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Chapman writes that an offer of £14 million could be enough to pry Howedes away from Schalke's grasp, although Bayern Munich are mentioned as another interested party.

According to Transfermarkt, the 26-year-old's current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2017, meaning Schalke are under no immediate pressure to sell.

Wenger finally addressed the lack of depth in central defence with January's acquisition of Brazilian Gabriel Paulista, but it appears the Frenchman may desire more depth at the back.

Prior to making his Arsenal debut in the FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough, Gabriel received high praise from his new boss, per Ben Dinnery of ESPN FC:

Howedes has been linked for some time with a move outside the Veltins-Arena, but the Miners have so far managed to keep hold of his talent while attempting to break into Germany's elite.

The centre-back recently scored a crucial equaliser during the 1-1 draw against Bayern, helping Roberto Di Matteo's men maintain their surge back into the Bundesliga's top four.

However, with Gabriel now contending alongside Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker for a starting spot at the Emirates Stadium, it would be a surprise for another central defender to arrive in north London so swiftly.

It may be more realistic to expect a change at goalkeeper, with Wenger reportedly picking Bayer Leverkusen No. 1 Leno as his first choice to replace Wojciech Szczesny, per David Wright of the Daily Express. Wright quotes the stopper as having said at the start of this season:

“The foreign option is certainly appealing. A new language, a new culture – that I could definitely even imagine.”

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Szczesny recently made his return to the Gunners' lineup after serving time on the sidelines due to his smoking offence last month, but Wenger's faith may not yet be completely restored.

The helmsman spoke highly of the Pole prior to Arsenal's defeat of Boro in the FA Cup, giving the impression that his dropped keeper could make the return to the top of his pecking order in goal:

Leno favouring a move away from the BayArena may be considered too good an opportunity to pass up, though. Should Wenger retain any doubt regarding Szczesny's discipline, the Bayer starlet sits as an equally, if not more, promising asset.

The 22-year-old is yet to miss a minute of Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga campaign, but German football writer Jonathan Harding recently pointed the youngster out as being at least partly responsible for a 5-4 defeat to Wolfsburg:

Wenger has used Colombian international David Ospina in Szczesny's stead, proving himself to be another capable option at the Emirates.

For Leno to arrive, it seems likely Wenger would first have to let one of his stoppers go, although the long-term potential with Leno could be worth the risk.