According to a report in Metro, Arsenal are not done just yet with their signing spree, as the report suggests the club are closing in on the capture of Ciprian Marica, who left the German club Schalke this summer to become a free agent and hence available to move despite the transfer window shutting.

Arsene Wenger is a popular man in North London, with the Arsenal supporters enjoying the passion and determination showed by the manager after sealing the signing of Mesut Ozil for a reported fee of £42.5 million from Spanish giants Real Madrid. Ozil’s fee has broken the club’s all time spending record, which has made quite a statement in the Barclays Premier League.

The initial plan for the club was to bring in another striker to assist the growing pressure on Olivier Giroud, who enters his second full season as an Arsenal player. The striker had a so-so opening season at the club, and was criticized by some sections of supporters. To the delight of the supporters, the Frenchman finally looks settled in his role at the club, with the former Montpellier man scoring goals for fun in the initial part of the season.

Marica began his career at Dinamo Bucaresti as a youth player in 1996. After spending five years developing his game at the academy, he signed a professional contract with the club, but could only manage 23 matches with 4 goals in three full seasons at the club. The striker then had stints at Shaktar Donetsk, and VfB Stuttgart, before signing for Schalke in 2011. With just 34 appearances in two seasons, the striker is looking for first team action to compliment his 63-cap old Romanian international career.

His agent, Giovani Becali said, “He’s close to joining Arsenal , but we have to wait for the next week.”