Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta “has requested” that the Gunners pursue Real Madrid playmaker Isco and Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar in the January transfer window, according to Defensa Central.

The Spanish website does, however, report that the London club will only have the money to sign one of these players when the market opens next month.

At this stage, it is thought that Aouar is the favoured candidate, as he is younger and has greater potential for the future, but the Ligue One star is more expensive and would be difficult to sign in January.

Isco, on the other hand, is cheaper and is interested in moving to the Premier League club as he looks to stake his claim for a place in Spain’s squad for the European Championships. The four-time Champions League winner has rarely started for Real this season and wants to be playing regularly in the second half of the campaign.

Defensa Central report that “no decision” has been made on which player Arsenal will eventually plump for but it appears that at least one of them could move to the Emirates in the New Year.