Only yesterday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in his press conference had played down suggestions of a possible loan move for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, claiming he could do without the distractions of the January transfer window.

Morata has struggled to find regular games at the Bernabeu this season and the player himself admitted that he could make a move, albeit temporarily, should the situation doesn’t improve. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti however insisted that the 21-year-old won’t be sold in the winter transfer window.

Madrid-based newspaper AS claims that agent of Morata, Juanma Lopez, was in London yesterday, to negotiate the transfer with hierarchies of Arsenal and fellow North London rivals Tottenham.

Madrid do not want to lose a prodigious young talent like Morata permanently, but the Los Blancos could be happy to let him go on loan for the reminder of the season. The 21-year-old, who is seen as a second fiddle to main striker Karim Benzema, has recently fallen down the pecking orders behind Jese Rodriguez.

Despite Wenger’s claims, the Gunners may require a striker, especially now that Walcott will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury. Also, Spurs could be looking for a striker as well, after the North London club agreed a deal to sell Jermain Defoe to MLS club Toronto.

There were reports yesterday, that Portuguese club Benfica have also registered their interest in the youngster. Benfica could lose forward Rodrigo to Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg and Morata could be used to fill that vacancy.