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Arsenal have made contact with Hoffenheim as they explore the possibility of signing attacking midfielder Kerem Demirbay, according to Bild.

The Gunners are looking to replace Aaron Ramsey, who will move to Juventus when the summer transfer window opens.

What’s the word?

Demirbay joined Hoffenheim in 2016 and has made 84 appearances for the club, scoring 12 goals and laying on 24 assists.

This season, in the Bundesliga, he has scored four times and laid on six assists.

And Arsenal, per the aforementioned report, have made contact over a possible summer move, with the player available for £22million due to a clause in his contract.

The release clause is within the Gunners’ budget as they look to bring in a successor to the Wales international.

Indeed, Demirbay would be a low-cost option in an inflated transfer market.

The 25-year-old has a contract that runs until 2022 and has won two caps for Germany.

Bargain bin

What a surprise.

Arsenal are scouring the bargain basement as they look to replace perhaps their most influential midfield player of the last five years.

Of course, they are not receiving a fee from Juventus for Ramsey but one would think that significant investment would be needed to replace him.

The midfielder is one of the hardest-working in the league, constantly looking to bomb forward while also remaining assiduous in defence.

It remains to be seen if Demirbay can offer those qualities but, as it is, it appears that Arsenal are only interested because of his release clause.

That alone should worry Gunners fans.