With Arsenal in the market for a centre-back the Gunners will closely monitor Werder Bremen's announcement they are willing to listen to offers for captain Per Mertesacker. Mertesacker has entered the final year of his contract at Bremen, and, having struggled to meet valuations of Everton's Phil Jagielka and Blackburn's Chris Samba, Arsene Wenger could snap up a £6m bargain for the German international.
Bremen general manager Klaus Allofs is quoted as saying in The People: "We are willing to discuss a transfer for Per.
"We have promised him we will listen to serious offers."
