Arsenal Given Hope as Pep Guardiola Denies Marco Reus is a Bayern Munich Target

Pep Guardiola has denied Bayern Munich want to sign Marco Reus – giving hope to Arsenal that they could lure the Borussia Dortmund midfielder to the Emirates.

Reus has been linked with a string of clubs after it was revealed he could leave Dortmund for as little as €25m (£19.8m) under the terms of his release clause.

As well as Arsenal, the 25 year-old has been on the radar of Liverpool and Manchester United from the Premier League as well as Bundesliga champions Bayern, who have already taken Robert Lewandowski from their rivals this season.

It was believed Bayern would bide their time and wait until next summer before attempting to take Reus to the Allianz Arena from the Westfalenstadion.

Now manager Guardiola has effectively ruled out signing the player this summer, after saying he has no room for him.

"We have eight strikers – too many. I do not need new players. I am delighted with this squad," the Spaniard told German daily Bild ahead of Bayern's clash with Dortmund in the German Super Cup on Wednesday.

The news could be a fillip to Arsenal, who, despite a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City, are willing to splash cash pursuing more silverware, after winning the FA Cup last season.

German international Reus is even a self-confessed Gunners fan who idolised the north London club's midfielder Tomáš Rosický, a Dortmund player during his youth team days.

"My idol was always Tomáš Rosický." Rosický played at Dortmund for five years, before joining Arsenal in 2006. "He used to be phenomenal. He had such a good eye for an opening and knew where his teammates were, and he was so quick," Reus said, as quoted in the Guardian.

Reus has been a key role in Dortmund's resurgence after his move from Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Last season he scored 16 goals and provided 13 assists, as Dortmund finished a distant second to Bayern.