Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is thought to have made a last-ditch attempt to bring in a new striker before the transfer window closes by reaching out to Juventus striker Alvaro Morata.
The Gunners have been on the prowl for a new striker all month given their current attacking options have drastically underwhelmed all season, but saw their main target in Dusan Vlahovic eventually snub their interest in favour of a move to Juventus.
Real Sociedad star Alexander Isak is rumoured to have been sounded out as a potential alternative to Vlahovic, but the 22-year-old Sweden international now looks set to stay in Spain despite some reported sightings of the striker in London.
Arteta has sanctioned the departures of a number of Arsenal players this month and their attack is looking particularly depleted after Folarin Balogun was allowed to leave on loan, while former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to join Barcelona on loan before the window's close.
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Eddie Nketiah has also been touted with a late switch to Newcastle as Eddie Howe's Magpies look to add to their £90m spending spree this month.
In the event that both Aubameyang and Nketiah depart before the window closes, Arsenal would be left with just one recognised striker within their ranks in Alexandre Lacazette.
The Frenchman has a feeble three Premier League goals this term in 16 outings and is also in the final six months of his own Arsenal contract, ensuring he is also likely to leave the club before the start of next season.
Given the potential mass exodus of Gunners forwards, Arteta has recognised that drastic action may have to be taken and reportedly made contact with former Chelsea striker Morata in what could prove to be a complicated deal to complete.
Morata is currently on loan in Turin from parent club Atletico Madrid, though the signing of Vlahovic has rendered Morata somewhat redundant in Italy and Juve would be willing to terminate his loan deal.
Prior to their interest in Aubameyang, Barcelona had actually been linked with a switch for Morata but Atletico remain adamant they will not strengthen a direct rival.
Spanish newspaper AS report that Arsenal are aware of the situation surrounding the much-maligned striker and tasked Arteta’s assistant Miguel Molina with phoning Morata and convincing him to join.
Molina has previous with Morata having worked with him at Atletico before and is thought to have outlined Arteta's Arsenal project and suggested the Spain international was the "missing piece" in the Gunners puzzle.
Morata's previous Premier League experience is viewed as a positive by the Gunners hierarchy after the Spaniard spent three years at London rivals Chelsea.
The 29-year-old reportedly harbours some reservations over a return to England despite Molina's pitch with the deal itself containing plenty of moving parts that need to be in order before it is sealed.
