Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Atletico Madrid forward Adrian Lopez, by making an official bid.
Adrian has been long linked with the Gunners, with the English Premier League club looking to add to their forward line.
Arsene Wenger is a big admirer of the Spanish international, and has tabled an official offer of £10 million ($16 million), according to goal.com, after receiving glowing recommendations from scouts in Spain.
The forward has been sparsely used by Diego Simeone this season, making just six starts. Arsenal have also been encouraged by the fact that the striker has an €18 million release clause in his contract (£14.7, $24 million).
While the initial offer will not trigger the buyout clause, Arsenal are hopeful Atletico, who have large debts, will accept the bid.
If necessary, the Gunners are ready to up their offer to match the release clause, but will only do so if they are forced to.
Adrian will fit well in Arsenal's scheme of things, as the 24-year-old is well capable of playing across the frontline, be it out wide or through the middle.
Arsenal are also keeping tabs on Fernando Llorente of Athletic Bilbao and David Villa of Barcelona, but Adrian remains Wenger's prime target for January.
With a certain Spaniard named Santi Cazorla already making waves at the Emirates just a few months after joining the Gunners, Adrian can add a little more Spanish flavor at the Emirates.
Meanwhile, Cazorla said the Arsenal move in the summer was a chance he could not turn down.
"It was a very important decision, to change teams," he told the club's official website. "It is a new challenge, it is a completely new adventure from the start, you have to start from zero, aside from the fact of going into a different culture, a new league, a new language.
"But I think that with Arsenal, I was offered an opportunity that I could not turn down, being 27 years old (at the time), it was like a train that I had to take, and I am very satisfied.
"I am learning a lot, I am adapting more and more as days go by, and my aim is to learn the English game, and hopefully I will spend some good years at this club.
"I really enjoy the league, the atmosphere at the stadiums, the respect of the people, their kindness, it is incredible."
