Arsenal bid 10m for German star Per Mertesacker

ARSENAL are eyeing up a move for £10million-rated German star Per Mertesacker to boost their defensive reinforcements.

The Gunners are already close to finalising an £8.5m deal for Laurent Koscielny from French club Lorient. But boss Arsene Wenger needs to make at least two big-money signings, with both William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre departing.
And if Sol Campbell joins Celtic it will leave Arsenal with just two senior central defenders - Thomas Vermaelen and Johan Djourou.
Mertesacker, 25, has been on the Gunners' radar for some time with chief scout Steve Rowley regularly making personal checks on him in action for club side Werder Bremen.
The 6ft 5in defender's displays in helping Germany to the quarter-finals of the World Cup have strengthened the view he could do a job in the Premier League.
Wenger has been linked with several defenders this summer and has increased his offer for Everton's Phil Jagielka to £10m.
But Goodison boss David Moyes is urging his board not to part with the 27-year-old and that has persuaded Wenger to consider a swoop for Mertesacker.