Atletico Madrid will stand by their £32 million valuation for Diego Costa next month. The London Evening Standard says Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is believed to have sent chief scout Steve Rowley to Spain with instructions to report back on Costa's final two matches before their winter break: a Copa del Rey tie against Sant Andreu and a league game against Levante.

Arsenal are yet to fully explore the nuances of Costa's buy out clause - mindful of the complications they faced when attempting to trigger a similar aspect of Luis Suarez's contract at Liverpool last summer - but they have been told it will cost them £32m to prompt a move.

Arsenal have the funds despite spending £42.4m on Mesut Ozil in the final throes of the last window but Wenger is yet to decide whether Costa is worth that figure.