Arsene Wenger’s promise to bolster Arsenal's squad in January made at the club’s AGM last week will be put to the test over Mats Hummels and whether the Gunners can prove a bigger lure than Manchester United.
Hummels has been identified as the No 1 target during the next transfer window but the 25 year old is also wanted at Old Trafford.
Wenger, who doesn’t really like buying in January, would rather not be involved in a bidding war.
In previous years he would never have considered paying the £32million for a defender but that is the fee Borussia Dortmund are said to want for the German international.
That said, Arsenal thought they had won the race for Hummels before the August window closed.
But just when a deal seemed to be going through, Dortmund made Hummels their captain and the player opted to stay. It is also believed that offers for Hummels had not exceeded £25m.
Arsenal have sufficient funds to meet Dortmund’s asking price and challenge United for the World Cup-winner although a tug-of-war could come down to personal terms.
Hummels, however, could also be drawn to Arsenal given the prospect of teaming up with his international team-mate Per Mertesacker.
Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira also remains on Arsenal’s wanted list to toughen up their midfield but again the German is also on United’s radar.
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