Arsenal Transfer News: Laurent Koscielny 'Recommended' in Bayern Munich Rumours

Bayern Munich are reportedly heating up their pursuit of Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny as they look to lure the Frenchman to the Allianz Arena as a squad option. 

German newspaper Bild reported Bayern technical director Michael Reschke is a "big admirer" of the defender and has reportedly recommended him to the club, although Koscielny may not be excited at the thought of being third choice in Germany (via Sport Witness):

Bayern have already re-signed Germany international Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund this summer, while Jerome Boateng has been the rock of the club's defence for the past two years and isn't likely to be dropped anytime soon.

Koscielny has just a year remaining on his Arsenal contract, but the 30-year-old recently suggested to Omnisport (h/t Metro's Max Miller) that he's looking forward to the upcoming season in north London:

Yes it’s a disappointment. We finished second, but if you look at the whole season, we can have regrets. 

I think this year we had the means to compete with the other teams to win this title. But our results were inconsistent, especially in February and March, when we won very few games, and we took very few points.

It was tough, but we have to keep the positive from this season to learn from it, and start a nice season next year, with probably some new players that will allow us to reach another level and have more consistent results.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger undoubtedly wouldn't be keen on the thought of losing arguably his best defender in the buildup to the new campaign, especially with no apparent successor in sight at present.

The veteran has impressed during his Euro 2016 campaign with France, too, and OptaJean recently highlighted him as one of the toughest defenders in the competition thus far:

France Football (h/t Metro's Tom Olver) reported in May that Arsenal were considering appointing Koscielny as their next captain following Mikel Arteta's retirement.

That would suggest the north Londoners have plans for the former Lorient star, who moved to the Emirates Stadium in 2010 and has gone on to make 248 appearances for the Premier League club.

According to Bild, Bayern may let Medhi Benatia leave the Allianz Arena after just two seasons in Bavaria, while injury-prone centre-back Holger Badstuber can't be relied upon to remain fit for an entire campaign.

The one factor Bayern can boast in their bid to sign Koscielny is a more assured run at silverware, something the Frenchman's career has been somewhat lacking since his move to Arsenal.

The FA Cup victories of 2014 and 2015, as well as the corresponding Community Shields, remain the only title wins of Koscielny's Arsenal stay, and with only a year left on his deal, he could be available for a cut-price figure.

Hummels and Boateng looks set to be the pair at centre-half in 2016-17, but if the club's hierarchy get their way, they could recruit Koscielny as a very capable back-up option.