Arsenal 'preparing fresh offer for Bayer Leverkusen's Lars Bender'

Arsenal are allegedly planning to make an improved offer for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is ready to table a £21m bid for the Germany international after having a £15m offer rejected last summer, The Express reports.

Bender signed a new contract with Leverkusen last October, but is said to be open to the possibility of moving elsewhere ahead of the new season.

Leverkusen are believed to be under no pressure to sell him, although they could be swayed by a big-money offer.