Arsenal are looking to hijack Newcastle United's move for Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, while the London club have been offered Yoan Gourcuff on loan by Lyon.
Yanga-Mbiwa has been on Arsenal's radar for a long time, with the club's scouts watching the Montpellier skipper last week, and Arsene Wenger is seriously considering making a bid, according to the Daily Mirror.
However, with Newcastle agreeing a £6.7 million ($10.6 million) fee with the French club, Arsenal will need to move quickly if they are to sign the versatile player.
The 23-year-old was one of the standout players for Montpellier in Champions League game against Arsenal, with the French international impressing in a defensive midfield position.
Yanga-Mbiwa, however, is most comfortable playing in the center of defense, while he can also do a good job at right-back.
Arsenal are in serious crisis right now, in sixth place with fourth looking like a distant dream unless they improve their results quickly, following disappointing defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City in the last couple of weeks.
While Theo Walcott has signed a new contract, Arsenal need more players to give them that push for a top-four place, and Yanga-Mbiwa, with his versatility would add quality to the squad.
Newcastle will be desperate to come to terms with the player, after losing out on Loic Remy to Queens Park Rangers in the eleventh hour, after having agreed a fee with Marseille.
If Arsenal were to put in a bid for the defender, then chances are Yanga-Mbiwa will choose to play for the North London club over the Magpies, but it is a big if though.
Meanwhile, another long-term Arsenal target Gourcuff could be on his way to Arsneal, with Lyon reportedly offering the player on loan to get his £80,000 a week ($110,000) wages off their books, according to reports in France.
Arsene Wenger is a big admirer of the playmaker, but injuries and lack of form has brought down the player's stock quite a bit over the past couple of years, and it is debatable whether the Arsenal manager will be interested in taking a chance on the midfielder, even if it is just a temporary move.