Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Wenger Must Battle Real Madrid and Liverpool for French Targets

According to a report in the Daily Mail, Liverpool and Arsenal are set to lock horns during the summer, with both clubs supposedly targeting Belgian club Anderlecht's Argentine midfielder Lucas Biglia.

The Gunners are known to be pursuing a number of options in the defensive midfield position, to both provide cover for Cameroonian Alex Song and give themselves the option of playing a double defensive pivot in midfield. Arsene Wenger is reportedly leading the race to sign Spanish club Athletic Bilbao's Basque midfielder Javi Martinez, according to an earlier IBTimes UK report, but is apparently in no mood to leave anything to chance, given that rivals Manchester United are also interested in the player. The 26 year old's fine form in the Belgian league has also alerted Italian side Juventus and French club Paris St Germain (PSG).

However, Wenger and Kenny Dalglish could be forced to move fast, if they want their targets, following news that Spanish giants Real Madrid have started showing interest in Biglia.

According to an ESPN report, the club may have identified the player as a potential replacement for Frenchman Lassana Diarra, who is set to leave the club this summer. The report suggests that coach Jose Mourinho has asked for reinforcements in the centre of the park and has also targetted Juventus' Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal.

Biglia signed for Anderlecht from Argentinean club Independiente and has made over 150 first team appearances for the club. He recently signed a new deal last summer and is contracted till 2015, meaning his services may not come cheap.

In other news, Dalglish and Wenger could face another transfer tussle between themselves, after the Daily Mail also reported on both clubs' interest in Montpellier's Moroccan winger Younes Belhanda. The Ligue 1 club has attracted considerable attention this season for the standout performances of a number of their players, including French striker Olivier Giroud and defender Mapou Yangambiwa. Belhanda has scored 11 times in 27 games for his club and his performance was good enough for Dalglish himself to fly out and watch the 22 year old in action.

Finally, oft-spoken about Arsenal striking target Giroud could well be actually available for transfer, if a report in Metro is true. This is despite an earlier IBTimes UK report quoting Montpellier owner Louis Nicollin as saying he expected his star striker to stay if the club qualified for the Champions League next season, which they are almost certain of doing.

"If we're offered a lot of money, Giroud and Belhanda will certainly go," Nicollin admitted.

Giroud is believed to have a release clause of about £10.7 million, according to the Metro and the relatively low price has also drawn interest from German side Bayern Munich. However, given the already large number of strikers in the Arsenal squad - the addition of German forward Lukas Podolski too - it is clear Wenger will have to look to move the likes of Marouane Chamakh, Nicklas Bendner, Andrei Arshavin and Carlos Vela out of the Emirates before contemplating any more signings.