Arsenal Transfer News: Galatasaray Pursuing Lukas Podolski, Lars Bender Rumours

Turkish giants Galatasaray are hoping to capitalise on the indecision currently surrounding Lukas Podolski's Arsenal future after confirming the forward as a target, while Lars Bender is back on Arsenal's radar.

Speaking to NTV Sport (via Goal's Tom Maston) this week, Gala coach Hamza Hamzaoglu named Podolski as one of the players on the club's summer shortlist, proclaiming:

"Podolski and [Marseille's Andre-Pierre] Gignac are both on our shortlist. We have not yet entered direct talks."

Manager Arsene Wenger allowed Podolski to move on loan to Inter during the latter half of the 2014/15 campaign, signalling that perhaps the German no longer rests in Arsenal's long-term plans.

In total, the winger made only 13 appearances for the Gunners across all competitions last term and only two of those were starts, neither of which came in the Premier League.

Paolo Giovannini/Associated Press

With only a year left on Podolski's contract, Arsenal will be forced to make a decision on the player this summer or risk losing him for free in 2016.

Despite playing an extremely low-key role for the English giants during a season in which they won the FA Cup, Podolski insists he's willing to remain for the last year of his deal, per Goal:

"

There's bound to be speculation in the coming weeks, but at the moment it looks like I will be going back to London. Things can always change, but if needs be I will remain at Arsenal next season. They are a great club and I think I can help them. I can confirm there has been no interest from Werder Bremen.

From a sporting perspective it was certainly not the best year. But I am still young. I still very much feel like playing football. Let's see what happens. I will not vanish from the football world.

"

The Germany international is evidently aware there may be a move on the cards this summer, although it would all seem to depend on whether it's the right move for him.

Competition for a place on Arsenal's flanks is heated right now and Bleacher Report's Andy Brassell recently discussed Theo Walcott—another player whose contract is diminishing—as a player the Gunners must keep:

If Podolski were to remain at the Emirates next season, he'd be little more than a squad player, but the lower level of quality in Istanbul would make for a much easier contest.

Super Lig champions Galatasaray have fired a warning shot in their pursuit of the Arsenal outcast; now comes the Gunners' turn to make a call on how highly they value the 30-year-old.

Lars Bender Back On Arsenal Agenda

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Not for the first time in recent years, Bayer Leverkusen general Bender is being touted as a target for Arsenal, as the club once again seek to target a tough-tackling midfield presence.

That's according to the Sun (via James Orr of the Independent), who reports the Germany international will once again be examined as a target this summer with a view to making an £18 million move.

Bender has consistently impressed as a leader figure for the Factory Squad in recent years, while the Gunners have also been searching for a player fitting his skill set.

While discussing Manchester United's potential summer business, Squawka's Greg Johnson compares Bender to Borussa Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan, highlighting the former as the more specifically defensive of the two:

It could be precisely what Wenger has been looking for, but following the emergence of Francis Coquelin as a first-team star, one might question whether another defensive midfielder is needed at the Emirates.

Coquein only arrived at the club mid-season after an initial loan at Charlton Athletic but was nevertheless elected runner-up in Arsenal's Player of the Year poll, per the club's official Twitter account:

It's a sign of just how drastic an impact the player had in a midfield that sees the ageing figures of Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini easing out and About Diaby's time at the club soon to be over.

Traditionally speaking, it's not in the nature of the Arsenal board to spend in excess when an in-house option is available, leading one to think the Gunners may put their faith in Coquelin.

It would also take some effort to convince Leverkusen into selling, considering Bender signed a six-year extension in 2013 and is tied to the Bundesliga outfit until 2019.