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Arsenal in new deal talks with Per Mertesacker
ARSENAL have opened talks with centre-back Per Mertesacker over a new four-year deal.
The German, 29, has been a major part of Arsenal’s success this season with his defensive partner Laurent Koscielny.
Mertesacker who missed Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Manchester United due to a flu bug, still has 18 months of his £65,000-a-week deal to run.
The Gunners will also press on with a January bid for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, even with a likely price tag of around £27million.
Meanwhile, defender Thomas Vermaelen, who made his first league start this season at United, said: I’m still confident I can play for this club. My future is here. At the moment there is no story.”