Arsenal are seriously monitoring Aston Villa frontman Christian Benteke, but face competition from several clubs including North London rivals Tottenham and Liverpool.
Benteke has been the one bright spot in Villa's dismal season so far, scoring 11 goals and keeping Darren Bent out of the side.
Villa manager Paul Lambert has tipped Benteke for greater things in the future, and Arsenal will be in pole position were the to make a move, with the Belgian international previously openly stating his love for Arsenal and legend Thierry Henry.
"Arsenal are the club I love," Benteke said last November. "I like their philosophy of selecting young players and, besides, they had Thierry Henry.
"For me he is the best player in the world and was my boyhood idol.
"I'm not afraid of making enemies at Villa by saying I love Arsenal. One can say worse things."
The 22-year-old will fit in perfectly with Arsenal and would be good backup to Olivier Giroud, who seems to be getting better and better with each passing game.
While Arsene Wenger is in the market for a new striker in January, with David Villa his primary target, a move for Benteke in the summer cannot be entirely ruled out.
Aston Villa are unlikely to sell their asset in the winter window, but were they to be relegated at the end of the season, it would put the likes of Arsenal in pole position to take advantage.
Meanwhile, Bastia have admitted Arsenal are interested in signing talented youngster Florian Thauvin. The Gunners have been heavily linked with a move for the 20-year-old attacking midfielder, with Newcastle already having a bid rejected.
"Florian Thauvin has been the object of just one concrete offer so far, from Newcastle, for €3 million (£2.6 million, $4 million), but we refused it," Bastia chairman Pierre-Marie Geronimi said. "However, he didn't want to prolong his contract with Bastia, but he will stay until the end of the season.
"This week I have had Arsene Wenger on the phone twice. He expressed his interest in the player to us, but it has not gone beyond that."
Bastia have reportedly put a £6 million ($9.5 million) price tag on the midfielder, which Wenger is reluctant to match.
