Arsenal are not ones to spend astronomical sums on players. However, if Twitter and the Daily Mail are to be believed, the Gunners could be poised to sign Spain international striker Fernando Llorente.
The biggest Twitter trend of Monday night was Llorente's potential move to the Emirates. Thanks to a tweet from Javi Gomara, a journalist at Barcelona-based Sports Daily Mundo Deportivo, the Twittersphere hit stratospheric heights on the Llorente to Arsenal rumor.
"They say that it will be announced that Fernando Llorente is going to Arsenal. It would be a huge loss," Gomara wrote on his twitter account.
The Daily Mail also fuelled the rumors by stating Arsene Wenger was monitoring Llorente.
Llorente, known fondly as the Lion King, has been with Athletic Bilbao his entire career and came from their famed youth system. The Spain international has voiced his interest of moving to the Premier League before and has just one year left on his contract.
Llorente, however, has a high buyout clause and Arsenal, who are also interested in team-mate Javi Martinez, will have to pay around $45 million to attain the striker's services. While Wenger is unlikely to fork out that kind of money, the possibility of Robin Van Persie, Lukas Podolski and Llorente playing in one team is a mouth-watering prospect for all Arsenal fans.
Another player in Wenger's radar is Nigel De Jong. The Daily Mail claims Wenger is frustrated with the long-term pursuit of Yan M'Vila and could move to Dutch international De Jong, who was a bit-part player for Manchester City last season.
However, it is believed M'Vila remains close to signing for Arsenal and both parties are waiting for the European Championships to be completed before announcing a potential move.
Arsenal's chances of signing forward Olivier Giroud received a boost after Montpellier president Louis Nicollin said his striker is free to leave the club if they receive a suitable bid. Arsenal could use Marouane Chamkah as part of any deal to bring Giroud.
Theo Walcott is being linked with a move to arch-rivals Chelsea. The Arsenal winger has just one year remaining on his contract and it is understood both parties will sit and discuss a new contract once Walcott returns from Euro 2012. Walcott has previously stated he is happy at Arsenal and enjoyed his best season for the Gunners last campaign.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have received a big boost in their chances of keeping Van Persie at the Emirates after his wife and mother came out in support of the North London club. "Arsenal showed faith in Robin when he was going through a lean time," Van Persie's wife Bouchra told The Sun. So, we should not repay them by thinking about other clubs. Our home life and our children are happy in London."
The Dutch striker's mother Jose Ras added: "Arsenal love him and that's a great incentive to stay. Arsenal are a fantastic club. They have no debts and Robin is idolised here."
