Arsenal are planning a £10 million bid for Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta.
The Daily Mail says the 26-year-old, a £2m signing from Real Sociedad in 2005, has been a key figure in the Merseysiders' rise to sixth place in the Barclays Premier League and scored twice in Sunday's win over Sunderland.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Arteta is the creative player who can be an immediate replacement for the injured Cesc Fabegras and could eventually form an effective partnership with his fellow Spaniard.