Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is chasing £6 million-rated West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green.
Green, 27, is fed up at being consistently overlooked by England boss Steve McClaren and knows a move to one of the big four clubs would boost his chances of getting an international call-up.
Wenger remains unconvinced about current stopper Manuel Almunia.
The Spaniard took over by default from German No 1 Jens Lehmann, whose days at Arsenal are numbered.
The only sticking point could be that Green will demand first-team football.