Arsenal are reported to be weighing up a £7.5m move for Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Sebastian Rode.
The 22-year-old has impressed in Frankfurt's surprise push for a Champions League place this season with a string of accomplished performances in central midfield in the Bundesliga.
Rode has just 16 months left on his deal at Frankfurt and has yet to show any interest in extending his deal with Die Adler.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been criticised for not replacing Alex Song as an enforcer in midfield and sees Rode as a quality addition in that position, according to The Sun.
Arsenal faces stiff competition for the German under-21 international from Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, who both rate the holding midfielder highly.