Arsenal Transfer Rumor: Gunners Preparing £15M Bid for Valencia’s Roberto Soldado?

English Premier League heavyweights, Arsenal, are reportedly looking to boost the team's frontline, by adding striking options during the summer transfer window. Club manager, Arsene Wenger, is believed to have targeted Spanish club Valencia's hitman Roberto Soldado, in an effort to help ease the burden on the Gunners' captain, Robin van Persie.

Wenger has apparently sent scouts to monitor the 26-year-old Spaniard and must certainly be impressed by his recent good form and finishing skills. Potential moves, however, will depend on Arsenal securing a top four finish in the current season (so as to guarantee Champions League football next year).

The London club did bring in attacking options in the previous transfer window, in the form of Ivorian, Gervinho, and South Korean, Park Chu-Young. The former has yet to hit the net on a regular basis but does offer a viable option upfront. The South Korean, however, is yet to become a good Premiership player, which means that the club's Dutch captain is often forced to play as a lone striker.

Wenger will look to make full use of the financial difficulties that are reportedly plaguing the Mestalla-based team, who may be compelled to sell more players to balance the books. The club has already sold the likes of David Villa, David Silva and Raul Albiol.

Arsenal are expected to offload two other strikers - Danish front-man Nicklas Bendtner and Mexican international Carlos Vela - who were loaned to Sunderland and Real Sociedad respectively, over the summer, according to a Caughtoffside report.

Soldado, who arrived at Valencia last year from Getafe, after starting his senior career at Real Madrid, has made 61 appearances for the club and has managed to score 38 times.