Arsenal are readying an improved bid for Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic as Arsene Wenger looks to strengthen his attacking lineup.
If there is one thing that has been evident in the Arsenal side this season, it has been the finishing ability of their forwards.
While Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud have done admirable jobs - and no doubt both of them will get better with every passing game - Arsenal do need a prolific striker to replace Robin Van Persie, because after all he did score 37 goals for the Gunners last season.
While Jovetic might not be as prolific as one might expect, there is little doubt that he will add the quality and indeed the cutting edge that sometimes has been lacking this season.
Arsenal are preparing a bid of around £22 million ($35 million), according to reports in Italy. It is believed that the Gunners have already had an offer of around £20 million ($32 million) turned down by Fiorentina, who are not ready to let go of their biggest asset on the cheap.
However, the fact the Guiseppe Rossi has signed for Viola in January, has left the Italian club with the option of selling Jovetic, who has previously left no doubts about the fact that he would love to play in the English Premier League one day.
The 23-year-old can only get better in a fluid attacking system like Arsenal and has the potential to improve his goalscoring record drastically as well.
It all depends on how far Arsene Wenger is willing to go to bring in a forward, with David Villa also a serious target, although if you go by the manager's words, Arsenal are not interested in the Barcelona man.
"We have been linked with David Villa, like Chelsea, but there's nothing concrete there," the manager said. "We are not on the case."
Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels, while Mohamed Diame of West Ham is also on the Gunners' radar. Wenger, though, played down the chances of completing those signings as well.
"No, I can't imagine Dortmund selling their defenders in the middle of the season anyway and we have not made any approach there," Wenger said.
"We cannot come out with the names we are on. We have not approached West Ham on that," he added on Diame."
If there is one thing certain about Wenger, it is that you take whatever he says, particularly on transfers, with a pinch of salt.
The Arsenal manager is notoriously close when it comes to revealing his targets; so as long as the January transfer window is open, anything is still possible.
