11 goals in 17: Arsenal “looked into” signing magnificent goal machine, Wenger reveals

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he attempted to signBayern Munich bound Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, but told the Daily Mail that the Pole had agreed to join Bayern 18 months ago. Lewandowski this week announced that he had reached an agreement to join Bayern when his contract expires in the summer, but Wenger insisted that a deal had been in place long before that.

Whilst Wenger failed to hijack the Lewnadowski deal, he refused to rule out a move for his Dortmund teammate Mario Mandzukic, although he did concede that a deal would have to wait until the end of the season.

“Yes, we looked into Lewandowski, but honestly he signed for Bayern one and a half years ago, everyone knows that,” said Wenger.

“They can only make it official now because he is in the last six months of his contract.”

“We are like everyone, we look out there and see what is happening. If an opportunity turns up, you know as well that all the big players are at big clubs at the moment and they go for important targets.”

“Unless you have a club in a desperate financial situation it will be difficult.

“If we find someone like Serge Gnabry at that age when no-one knows them, then maybe. But I just said many times we don’t rule anything out.”

On Madzukic, Wenger continued:

“Lewandowski is at Dortmund until the end of the season and they will not sell Mandzukic now – maybe at the end of the season.”