Arsenal will reportedly send scouts to watch Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa this week, in his final two matches before the Spanish clubs go on their winter break until January.

The Gunners’ chief scout Steve Rowley is understood to be attending Atletico’s Copa de Rey tie against Sant Andreu, and the league match against Levante on Saturday. Both will be at home.

The 25-year-old Brazilian-born forward, who has declared his intention to play international football for Spain, has been in scintillating form this season for Atletico, scoring 17 goals in 16 league matches for the team who sit level on points at the top of La Liga with Barcelona.

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Wenger tried and failed to land strikers Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez over the summer, and adding another front-man to the ranks at the Emirates must be one of his main concerns during the January transfer window to ease the pressure on Olivier Giroud.

Reports claim that Costa has a £32m buyout clause in his contract, but he would be ineligible to play for the Gunners in the Champions League this season, having appeared for Atletico in the competition.

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