Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is known to prefer proven English Premier League players, over ones that haven't yet tasted the hustle and bustle of the game in England, and keeping that in mind the Gunners have been linked with a move for Newcastle striker Demba Ba.
Ba is one of the best strikers in the Premier League currently, and has already scored 10 goals in 15 games this season.
It is well known that the Senegalese international has a buyout clause in his contract of only £7.5 million ($9.8 million), which will get reactivated when the transfer window opens in January, something that Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is extremely aware of and concerned about.
"I think this city is a city where information seems to get out," Pardew told reporters.
"For example, we've had to board our training ground off, because our team's been leaked to the press and also leaked to the opposition.
"Information about Demba's contract has leaked out and these are things that I don't think are acceptable.
"The truth of it is that Demba has got a clause and it's still hanging over us. We have tried to negotiate it away but we've not managed to do that as yet.
"The one thing I will say on a positive note is that he's never looked me in the eye and looked like he wanted to do anything else but stay here and I hope he does."
Negotiations over a new contract are undergoing between Newcastle and Ba over a new contract, while the Magpies try to take out the buyout clause or at least increase it considerably.
According to the Sun, Arsenal are ready to match the buyout amount, while offering Ba a contract worth £60,000 a week ($78,000) a week, plus add-ons.
Wenger is desperate to find a proven striker that can get 20-30 goals a season, with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar also heavily linked with a move.
Huntelaar is still believed to be the likeliest candidate to make a move to the Emirates in January, although Ba will be an option that will have to be considered, seeing his proven track record in the Premier League.
So will it be Huntelaar or Ba, or does Wenger have a couple more aces up his sleeve?
