Sources: Arsenal braced for £17m bid as contract set to be offered
By Arsenal correspondent Tony Hughes
Bayern Munich are weighing up a £16.8million summer move for Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny, Football Insider sources understand.
The German giants are tracking the Frenchman as they assess plans to strength their squad following a disappointing end to 2015-16 season.
Despite sealing the league title, Bayern were knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage for a third consecutive season.
Bayern are targeting a proven centre-back this summer who will be comfortable with the fluid playing style that new manager Carlo Ancelotti has inherited from Pep Guardiola.
Bayern are long-term admirers of Koscielny, who has developed into one of the most accomplished defenders in the Premier League.
The 30-year-old has two years remaining on his £100,000-a-week contract and is rated in the £16.8million bracket by Arsenal.
Bayern are ready to offer Koscielny a lucrative deal to entice him from Emirates Stadium.
However, the north Londoners will fight off interest in a player considered integral to Arsene Wenger’s future plans.
Koscielny joined Arsenal from Lorient in 2010 for around £9.7m and has established him as a lynchpin of the Arsenal team, forming an established centre-back partnership with Per Mertesacker.
The France international has been a key figure for club and country in recent years, and has started all four of his country’s matches at Euro 2016.
In other Arsenal transfer news, Wenger has triggered a north London striker war with a hint about £45million star.