Arsenal set to follow £45m double coup with swoop for German international Lars Bender #TheElitePartyinJuly #IRepEntertain9jarBlog #TwitterTrendBlog via @myentertain9jar

ARSENAL are ready to follow up the audacious £35m signing of Alexis Sanchez and the imminent capture of Mathieu Debuchy, with a move for long-term target Lars Bender.

 

Lars Bender has frequently been linked with a move to North London[GETTY]

Arsene Wenger has been uncharacteristically aggressive in this summer's transfer market.

And it appears the Frenchman will continue the trend with a big bid to land Bayer Leverkusen's midfield enforcer.

The Gunners have frequently been linked with a move for the accomplished international.

Bender has made 17 appearances for the German national side [GETTY]

And had a £19m bid rejected out-of-hand by the Bundesliga club last summer, with Bender subsequently penning a new deal.

Another option for Wenger is Real Madrid's Sami Khedira.

But with fierce competition surrounding Khedira combined with the Los Blancos man commanding a higher valuation - Wenger may consider offering a revised bid for the 25-year-old instead.

However, with the £77m combined signings of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, Gunners fans will fancy their chances of landing a third marquee signing.

Bender would act as a long-term replacement for the ageing Mikel Arteta, who is said to be too lightweight by some Arsenal fans.

The North London side already boast an abundance of high calibre midfielder's. 

Arteta, Abou Diaby, Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Flamini are just a few of Wenger's current central options.

But the temptation to add another world class player to the mix, may be too much for the Arsenal boss to resist.