Werder Bremen acquired Serge Gnabry from Arsenal in a “clever and creative” manner, according to a member of the club’s supervisory board.
Gnabry’s exit from Arsenal on deadline day came as something of a surprise after Arsene Wenger had set he hoped to agree a new deal with the 21-year-old, whose contract at the Emirates was set to expire at the end of the season.
Ultimately Arsenal accepted a bid of between £4-5million from Bremen but speculation in Germany has claimed that German champions Bayern Munich had a part to play in the deal and may have an agreement in place with their fellow Bundesliga side.
Whilst Wili Lemke did not confirm any involvement from Bayern in the deal, a suggestion that Bremen themselves deny, he did confirm that general manager Frank Baumann had secured Gnabry’s signature in a “creative” fashion.
Arsenal's summer 2016 transfer window timeline
“I think it's really very clever and creative how Frank Baumann has gone about the deal,” Lemke told Sport1. “I think it's great how it's turned out.
“It's difficult for me to talk openly about it as I'm a member of the supervisory board and have to adhere to confidentiality.”
After several injury-plagued years on the peripheries of the Arsenal side and out on loan Gnabry shot to prominence during the Rio Olympics, where his six goals were crucial in Germany’s run to the final and a silver medal.
