Arsenal transfers: Gunners suffer Lars Bender setback
Arsenal transfers: Lars Bender distances himself from a potential transfer to the Gunners this summer
Arsenal have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Lars Bender after the midfielder revealed that he has no intention of quitting Bayer Leverkusen.
The Gunners were linked with a £20m bid for the 25-year-old Germany international during the January transfer window but a move failed to materialise.
I’m happy at Leverkusen and I feel totally comfortable
Lars Bender
Now, Bender – who has scored three goals and made one assist in 28 Bundesliga appearances this season – has distanced himself from a possible move to Emirates Stadium by insisting that he is “totally comfortable” at Leverkusen.
“I have only recently extended my contract until 2019, I’m happy at Leverkusen and I feel totally comfortable,” Bender told Bild.
“I don’t have to change. Also, my season wasn’t brilliant, so I have to take the lead at a big club now.
“It was not an easy year year for everyone. After the joy of the first round, there were so many losses in the second round.
“We also lost three games in a row twice, which was uncomfortable. We’d never experienced that.”
