Arsenal have put France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris at the top of their goalkeeper shortlist, Goal.com UK can reveal.
But Arsene Wenger will turn his attention to Ukraine No.1 Andriy Pyatov if the Gunners are priced out of the market for Lloris.
The French coach has admitted he is an admirer of Lyon’s Lloris but it is believed that a bid of over £12 million would be needed to tempt Les Gones to sell their highly-rated keeper.
Lyon bought Lloris for £8m from Nice two summers ago when the 23-year-old snubbed a move to AC Milan.
He has also been monitored by Manchester United and his star status continues to rise after he was recently awarded the accolade of Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Wenger will make final checks on Lloris during the World Cup as he weighs up a move.
Pyatov, 25, has been on the Arsenal manager’s radar since he came to prominence with a string of matchwinning performances in Shakhtar Donetsk’s 2008-09 UEFA Cup-winning campaign.
HUGO LLORIS | Snapshot
BASICS
Age Position Club International Contract
SEASON STATS
Appearances (sub) Conceded Clean Sheets Yellow Cards Red Cards
ANALYSIS
Strength Weakness Current Form Estimated Value World Cup Place
IN FIVE WORDS
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23 GK Lyon France 2013
52 44 20 1 0
Crosses Distribution World class £15m+ Sure starter
Strong, athletic, brave, assured, consistent
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The Ukranian has found it hard to elbow veteran Oleksandr Shovkovsky out of the national side but has still won 17 caps for his country since making his debut in 2007.
Wenger has publicly backed his current crop of keepers Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone but there is growing pressure from Arsenal supporters for him to recruit a reliable No.1.
Nevertheless, if the manager feels he cannot get good value in the transfer market this summer then he may hold off until the January transfer window before making a move