EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal locked in £15m fight with Bayern to land German hotshot Reus

Arsene Wenger has launched another raid on the Bundesliga and is locked in a straight fight with Bayern Munich for £15million-rated Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marco Reus.



Acting on a tip-off from former Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann, Wenger sounded out Borussia counterpart Lucien Favre to register his interest in the up-and-coming 22-year old, whose recent form has taken him into the senior Germany squad.



One to watch: Marco Reus has impressed Arsenal, who face a fight with Bayern Munich to land the £15m-rated striker's services

But though Favre is a personal friend of the Arsenal manager, he was in no mood to do him any favours.



Wenger, who despatched chief scout Steve Rowley to watch Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze against Olympiakos last week but ended up receiving glowing reports about his team-mate Kevin Grosskreutz, made it clear he was ready to meet an 18million euro buy-out clause in Reus’ contract.



Thumbs up: Borussia Monchengladbach manager Lucien Favre has told his old pal Arsene Wenger (L) all about exciting prospect Reus



It cut no ice with Favre, though, as Borussia’s Swiss coach said: ‘Yes, it’s true that Jens gave Arsene the information about Marco and I then received a call about him.



'I know Arsene very well, and I told him the truth about Marco, that he is a very good player and very interesting prospect.



‘But I am the coach of this club, and my priority is doing the best for Borussia, rather than helping out an old mate.



Wanted: The Gunners are also keen to land Dortmund playmaker Mario Goetze in the January transfer window

'I want to keep Marco, and I think he will stay. How good is he? If I was in Arsene’s position and had to choose between Reus and Gotze, I don’t think I could. I would do my best to sign both.



'But I am confident Marco can resist the temptation of Arsenal. It might just be a little too early for him to move. It would be good for him, and for us, if he stayed another year or two. He has incredible qualities, but he can still improve in some ways, and we are working with him every day.



Target man: Reus has taken the Bundesliga by storm this season, alerting a host of suitors in the process

'He needs a foundation to keep improving his game, and he has the perfect one here at this club.'



Reus, a pacey forward who can play on either flank or as an attacking spearhead, is rated one of Germany’s brightest prospects.

