Arsenal submit £15.6m bid to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan

Arsenal have reportedly followed up their interest in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan by making a formal bid for the midfielder.

According to the Independent, Arsene Wenger is a big admirer of the German international and is keen to bring him to the Emirates Stadium during the ongoing January transfer window and the report claims that the Gunners have submitted a bid in the region of £15.6m for the midfielder.

The French manager is on the market for defensive signings and has indicated that he will sign a centre-back this month. Arsenal have also struggled with a lack of a defensive midfielder, someone who can break up play and protect the back four, in big games.

The Gunners boss has been looking at a long-term replacement for Mikel Arteta, who currently occupies that role and seems to have earmarked Gundogan as the man for the job.

The Borussia Dortmund player had been linked with a move to England in the summer, but signed a new deal to quell speculation regarding a move to the Premier League.

Apart from the Gunners, arch rivals Manchester United are also keen admirers of the midfielder and are interested in signing him after losing out on AS Roma's Kevin Strootman.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who recently made his way back to full fitness after being out for 15-months due to injury, has admitted in the that he would like to one day play for one the big teams in England, thus giving Arsenal and United hope to sign him.

Jurgen Klopp's Dortmund are going through one of the worst periods in the history of the club and find themselves tied on points with bottom placed Frieburg at 17<sup>th spot. This could give interested clubs more impetus to try and sign their best players.

Arsenal are also reportedly close to signing 17-year-old Polish midfielder Krystian Bielik and are reportedly targeting a move for Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin.