German outfit sniff around Arsenal ace

Date: 18th March 2013 at 7:00 pm
Written by Rebecca Knight | Comments (1)

Talk here in the Football Transfer Tavern has turned from Arsenal’s goalkeeping situation to their centre back one after the Express claimed Wolfsburg are keen on Per Mertesacker.

It has been clear for a while now – some would say eight years, Wenger would probably tell you eight weeks – that the North London side need a major change in the summer if they want to challenge not only for a top four place but for the title, let alone the Champions League and thus the speculation has begun.

Despite being viewed as something of a defensive liability in England in terms of his performances, the German is still rated fairly highly in his homeland and now the 28-year-old could well be set for a move home in the summer. Wolfsburg have been making noise about the defender and given their sporting director is the one who first signed Mertesacker for Werder Bremen, a move could well be on the cards.

Wolfsburg sporting director Kalus Allofs gushed: “Everyone knows what I think of Per. He was the leader at Bremen and I also think he is the leader of the National Team. If he is for sale there is always interest.”

It may not only be Per who is out of the Emirates at the end of the season with skipper ThomasVermaelen recently in the news regarding a potential departure after an underwhelming season. Ashley Williams and Raul Albiol have both been linked with a move to the Gunners as direct replacements.