Arsenal's chase for a new striker in January has just heated up with reports suggesting, Arsene Wenger is quickly moving in on Atletico Madrid forward Adrian Lopez.
Arsenal have earmarked signing a striker as the No.1 priority in the New Year transfer window, with Lopez the chief target.
It was understood, Fernando Llorente - and the Spanish press continue to link the Spanish international striker with a move the Emirates - was the most likely signing for the Gunners in January, with Llorente yet to agree a new deal with Athletic Bilbao, meaning he will be free to talk to clubs outside Spain in a couple of months' time.
However, according to several reports in the English press, Lopez is the chief target for Wenger, with the Frenchman reportedly having come close to signing the talented 24-year-old this summer.
Known as the "new David Villa", Lopez is a pacy forward capable of playing across the line - a characteristic that Wenger loves. Lopez, even with the formidable Radamel Falcao in the lineup, scored 18 goals in all competitions last year, and was the star for Spain when they won the under-21 title last year.
Although some Arsenal fans may prefer Llorente, who is more proven, Wenger feels the Bilbao man is too similar to Olivier Giroud, and will only move for the forward if a deal for Lopez fails to materialize.
Wenger will reportedly send out scouts to watch Lopez in action for Atletico against Real Sociedad this Sunday, but according to Goal.com, Arsenal are ready to start talks over a move in the next couple of weeks.
Atletico are in serious debt, and will reportedly be ready to let go of Lopez if the Gunners are ready to match his buyout clause of €18 million (£14.6 million, $23.4 million). That should not be a problem, with Wenger having as much as £35 million ($56.2 million) available to spend.
While there is no way the Arsenal manager will make use of the full transfer amount, buying Lopez will go a long way to adding that extra bit of quality which has seemingly been lacking up front at times.
Giroud has looked like finding form off late -- the goal against West Ham particularly showing the Frenchman's potential in front of goal, and the experiment of using Gervinho has been quite a success with the Ivorian looking at home as a center forward.
However, adding another player, particularly with the pedigree of a Lopez, can only benefit the Gunners as the season rolls on.
