Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool Set for Summer Battle over Huntelaar

Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool are set to fight it out for the signature of Schalke striker Klaas jan Huntelaar, according to the Daily Express.

The 31-year-old's contract with the Bundesliga club expires after the end of the season with the player willing to try his luck in a different league.

The striker is said to be available for a cut-price deal of £3m with Schalke unlikely to let him leave on a free in the summer.

All the three teams are in dire need of a striker who can alleviate their paucity of options up front, with Arsene Wenger still feeling the impact of the injury to Oliver Giroud.

Danny Welbeck is their only option with Yaya Sanogo also out of the reckoning with an injury. Arsenal's absentee list is long with Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta and Theo Walcott all nursing long- term injuries.

Liverpool are also in tatters with regard to their striking options in the absence of Daniel Sturridge and are currently placed out of the top four.

Mario Balotelli has failed to have an impact so far following his much anticipated £16m move from AC Milan in the summer.

The Italian has failed to hit the ground running and has cut a sorry figure at times for the Reds, drawing a blank until now in the Premier League.

Another new recruit, Ricky Lambert, has failed to make Brendan Rodgers' grade and has mostly been offered a place on the bench.

Huntelaar's arrival will give them a true goalscorer to fall back because of injured Sturridge.

Tottenham are also in the market for a striker to partner Emmanuel Adebayor, with Roberto Soldado falling out of favour with Mauricio Pochettino.

Tottenham have failed to find the back of the net on a regular basis this season and Huntelaar will be the perfect player to address their short-term woes.