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It seems like Arsène Wenger has developed a taste for spending after his last-minute transfer-window splurge in the summer. The Arsenal boss is determined to add Borussia Dortmund’s talented young midfielder Mario Goetze to his ranks, says the Daily Mirror’s John Cross, but he faces stiff competition from the likes of European giants Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

“I think that he is No. 1 on the hit list for Arsenal,” John explains. “I think they would love to do a deal in January. In fact, I think they’ve really made waves in trying to make manoeuvres on that one. Simply because they realise if they let this one go until the end of the season then Real Madrid and Bayern Munich [could outbid them].

And having discussed an Arsenal move for Goetze with Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp before the midweek Champions League game against the Germans, John was left in no doubt that both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich plan to go up against the Gunners in vying for the youngster’s signature.

“We’re not going to let him go in January, but there are an awful lot more clubs than Arsenal [interested]“, John says he was told, and as such rates Arsenal’s chances of clinching the signing as slim. “It’s a great ambitious target, but whether they can pull it off, I don’t know.”

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