Bayern Munich join Arsenal in race for teenage German defender

Freiburg may have lost a few of their better players in the summer, including Cedric Makiadi, Jan Rosenthal and most notably Germany international Max Kruse to Borussia Monchengladbach.

However, they did manage to keep hold of teenage starlet Matthias Ginter, who was being chased by Arsenal.

The big question now is whether Freiburg can maintain the services of Ginter again, with Arsenal still said to be interested, while Bayern Munich have also made contact.

Ginter can play in central defence or a holding midfield role and would look a perfect fit in Pep Guardiola’s squad that includes countless players equally adept at performing in a number of positions.

Meanwhile, with Holger Badstuber looking no nearer to returning from a lengthy injury, Jan Kirchhoff on an 18-month loan to Schalke and Daniel van Buyten out of contract in the summer, there is arguably space at Bayern for another centre half.

However, this is an area where Arsenal are not brimming with options either, with understudies to Laurent Koscielny and Ginter’s fellow German Per Mertesacker in short supply.

First-team chances and development would arguably be superior at the Emirates than the Allianz Arena and with Freiburg currently stationed in the bottom three of the Bundesliga, they may decide to sell.

The fact Francis Coquelin is in the Freiburg ranks may be a boost to Arsenal’s chances as he could put in a good word after joining the Gunners in 2008, while knowledge that Ginter has the best pass success rate in the Freiburg squad is another area of appeal, alongside him being ever present this season.

Arsenal’s odds are currently 4/1 to win the Premier League this season and some additional defensive reinforcements would do their title challenge no harm.

Also in their favour is that the last four Premier League champions had begun the calendar year on top of the standings.