Arsenal have reportedly sent scouts to watch Atletico Madrid star Diego Costa this week ahead of a potential January move for the striker.

The Premier League leaders are keen to strengthen their frontline in January having had to rely on Olivier Giroud staying fit so far this season, and manager Arsene Wenger nd head scout Steve Rowley have sent personnel out to the Spanish capital to run the rule over the forward.

Scouts have been instructed to assess Costa, who has scored 22 goals in 21 appearances this term, in Wednesday's Copa del Rey clash against Sant Andreu and against Levante in La Liga at the weekend, both of which take place at the Vicente Calderon.

According to Goal.com, Arsenal have already made contact with the player's representatives about a potential switch to the Emirates Stadium next month, with the understanding that Costa is on a relatively low wage at Atletico.

However, a potential stumbling block could be the fact that Costa signed a new contract in August that would keep him at Atletico until 2018, although it is believed that a fresh buy-out clause of £32m was inserted in the deal, which could be met by Arsenal.