Barcelona are set to compete with Arsenal for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender. Lars, who is one-half of the famous Bender twins has put in some impressive displays for Leverkusen this season after returning from injury in September and has attracted interest from other clubs in Europe.
The defensive midfielder signed a six-year contract extension last season under then manager Sami Hyypia that will keep him at the club until 2019. This could mean that anyone interested in the German will have to pay a hefty fee to make Leverkusen part ways with their player.
Bender can play anywhere in the midfield and can be deployed in the full back positions as well, but he is predominantly a holding midfielder. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will definitely strengthen come January and with reports emerging that Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira wants to stay at the club, Wenger has to look elsewhere for a solution to his midfield problems.
Arsenal have missed having a natural holding midfielder at the club which has resulted in poor defensive displays. For their style of play, a player who can protect the defense and break-up play is essential. Mathieu Flamini has shown glimpses of decent form but is far from what they need at the moment. Spaniard Mikel Arteta is more of a passer from deep rather than a destroyer. Bender is a player who is not only good at passing the ball, but also possesses good positioning and tackling skills, a key ingredient in new manager Roger Schmidt’s high pressing tactics. Arsenal need to act fast now or else they may lose one of their long-term targets.
Barcelona lack depth when it comes down to that position and have identified Bender as a potential signing. Since returning from a hamstring injury in September, Bender has replaced Emir Spahic as the club captain and has helped his side to just two points off the Champions League spot.