Arsene Wenger will launch a determined bid to sign a goalkeeper in January - with Pepe Reina top of his wish-list.
The Arsenal boss also fancies Stoke's Asmir Begovic if he cannot agree a deal with Liverpool for Reina.
The fact Wenger is ready to go for a new first-choice keeper is seriously bad news for his current No1, Wojciech Szczesny.
Wenger tried to sign Reina two summers ago and Arsenal believe there's a chance Liverpool will be willing to cash in and go for Birmingham's England prospect Jack Butland as a replacement.
Spain international Reina, who has had an indifferent season, is on £110,000-a-week wages, which is likely to be a major issue for Arsenal.
That is why they are also looking at Begovic, who has impressed Gunners scouts.
Wenger, who has been assured he has big money to spend, is also likely to bid for Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in January, hoping the Dutch striker may be going cheap at around £6m as he is set to be out of contract at the end of the season.
Privately, Wenger accepts that he must strengthen a squad that has produced Arsenal's worst ever start to a Premier League season.
Huntelaar has emerged as his preferred striker option, while he is also in the market for a versatile defender and Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha.
Arsenal have been long-term admirers of Montpellier's Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, even though he has set his heart on a move to Italy.
Wenger will also definitely bid for Southampton's whizkid Luke Shaw in January, with Chelsea also interested in the 17-year-old.
Shaw is Southampton's latest emerging talent and the England Under-17s star is tipped to follow Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and become a full international.
Arsenal's board will support a spending spree if it strengthens Arsenal's chances of a top four finish.
The club will also listen to offers for Andrey Arshavin, Andre Santos and Marouane Chamakh next month.
Santos is wanted in Turkey, where he played for Fenerbahce before moving to Arsenal in summer 2011, while Zenit St Petersburg want old-boy Arshavin back.
Arsenal may subsidise Chamakh's £60,000-a-week wages if it helps them offload him to Italians Fiorentina.
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if Sterling happens
Originally Posted by Olivier's xmas twist
