Arsenal want Schalke’s Benedikt Howedes

Arsenal are planning a fresh swoop for German centre-back Benedikt Howedes in the summer transfer window, according to a report in SportBild.

The 27-year-old has been with Schalke 04 for 15 years and has made more than 200 league appearances for the senior side, scoring 11 times.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has been a long-term admirer of Howedes and attempted to sign him last summer but the defender turned down his advances, saying that his job was “not yet done” following Schalke’s disappointing sixth-place finish in the Bundesliga.

Howedes is contracted at the Veltins-Arena until the end of next season and is thought to have a release clause of just £9m.