Arsenal and Chelsea have been dealt a blow in the race for signing Mario Mandzukic after Bayern Munich director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has insisted the player will stay with the club after holding talks.
The Croatia international has been the subject of intense speculation he could leave in the summer following the announcement that Robert Lewandowski will be joining the Bavarian giants. But the Allianz Arena outfit seem confident of keeping the 27-year-old despite fears he would leave for either of the Premier League duo or Juventus who have been tracking the star. “I have spoken personally with Mario and I know that he will stay with Bayern Munich,” Rummenigge told Sport Bild. “Mario is a very important player for us and has a contract until 2016. Lewandowski? We’re glad he’s coming, but at the same time, we’re happy that Mandzukic will stay.
”Despite the public statements Chelsea and Arsenal could yet test the waters with a bid at the end of the season.
Mandzukic could yet decide his future is better served away from Bayern as his amount of game time is likely to go down next season.
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