Reported Arsenal transfer target Benedikt Howedes has admitted that he would be interested in a move abroad in the future.

The 24-year-old centre-back has spent his career to date in Germany with Schalke 04, making over 150 senior appearances for the Bundesliga outfit.

"There will always be rumours, especially when you have won the World Cup," the Germany international is quoted as saying by The Express. "I have not directly heard from those clubs, but my management does not tell me everything anyway.

"Currently, I don't get too busy with it. I know that I have responsibilities here. If I did not love Schalke, I would not have been here for 13 years now.

"But I have also said that it would be tempting to play abroad one day and learn a new language, have a different surrounding and settle at a new club. I leave it open for now when this will be. It does not have to happen now, and also not next year."

Arsenal are short one central defender after letting Thomas Vermealen leave for Barcelona.