Arsenal are watching Nantes' French Under-21 midfielder Jordan Veretout.
Arsene Wenger is keeping tabs on the 21-year-old after his impressive form this season which is also attracting interest from Inter Milan and Spanish clubs.
Veretout's contract expires in 2017 and has a buy-out clause of around £4million.
Arsenal do need to bring in reinforcements this January - especially after Arsene Wenger made the astonishing admission that his defence lacks "leadership".
Gunners boss Wenger made the remarkable admission after conducting an inquest into Arsenal’s defending on Liverpool’s last gasp equaliser at Anfield on Sunday.
Television pundits Martin Keown, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have all been highly critical of Arsenal’s defending and Per Mertesacker has also been singled out.
Wenger said: “They should be talking, yes. Maybe they do talk but it doesn’t look like that when you look at the pictures. Of course it’s important to have someone organising.
“Sometimes it’s just one yard forward or backward that makes a difference.
In pictures - Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal:
"You want somebody to take the leadership there."
Wenger admitted that German centre half Mertesacker has struggled for form since winning the World Cup and confessed that Calum Chambers needs a break.
“For a 19 year old player, he has played too many games,” said Wenger.
“They all hit the wall after 15, 17 games.
“You have to give them a breather, refresh and get them back again.
"And at the moment, to have that responsibility in every single game is a lot on a player of that age.”
Wenger has been dealt another blow after captain Mikel Arteta was ruled out until January after he suffered a setback in his recovery from injury.