Arsenal and Liverpool are battling for Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi. The Mirror says manager Arsene Wenger is desperate to strengthen ­Arsenal's goalkeeping ­department and sees ­Al-Habsi as the ­perfect man to provide ­serious ­competition to ­Wojciech ­Szczesny.

Wenger has been tracking Al-Habsi since last season and is now ready to make a move after being ­unconvinced by the displays of Szczesny's current deputy Vito Mannone.

Although Mannone made some good saves in ­Szczesny's absence through injury, Wenger has decided he needs two top-class keepers - and the Italian remains some way short of that standard.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is on the lookout for ­somebody to provide ­serious competition to and possibly replace out-of-sorts Pepe Reina, and has ­highlighted Al-Habsi as a potential target as well.