Malaga midfielder Pablo Fornals has stalled over a potential move to Valencia this summer after having been made aware of the interest from Arsenal.
The north London giants are on the search for a new attacking midfielder for next season with Santi Cazorla likely to be offloaded at the end of the current campaign.
Cazorla, 32, has endured yet another injury-hit season in the Gunners shirt after having suffered a recurrence of his Achilles problem in October last year.
The Spain international is understood to have already agreed a year’s extension until 2018, but he could nevertheless be offloaded on a cut-price owing to his lack of impact over the past 18 months.
According to Metro, via Plaza Deportivo, the Gunners could be set to raid on Cazorla’s former club Malaga with Fornals being identified as a potential replacement. Reports in Sun further claimed that the North London club could launch a bid for the youngster.
The 21-year-old has impressed in the Spanish La Liga this term with six goals and two assists, and this appeared to have secured his switch to Valencia until the Gunners moved in.
Malaga have apparently told the player of the Gunners’ interest, and the attacker could be willing to discuss a proposed move to the Emirates ahead of the summer transfer window.
Fornals has a release clause of around £10m in his existing contract, but it is yet to be known whether the clause is applicable to clubs overseas.
Arsene Wenger’s side are currently six points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City with a game in hand, and it appears that they might miss out on Champions League football for the first time in 20 years.
