Arsenal sends scout to Athletico Madrid with a view to Diego Costa £32M January deal

Arsene Wenger and the Gunners' chief scout Steve Rowley have identified the player as a potential January target as the Premier League leaders step up plans to reinforce their front line.

However, if Arsenal can pay the release clause, believed to be around  €38 million, and reach an agreement with the striker then we could see the most impressive signing of the transfer window. But why he would decide to leave a team who are strong contenders for La Liga and capable of going far in the Champions League?Scouts have been instructed to assess Costa in Wednesday night's Copa Del Rey clash against Sant Andreu and Saturday's La Liga match against Levante, both of which take place at the Vicente Calderon.

Costa has been in sensational form this season, scoring 22 goals in 21 Atletico games, including 17 in 16 in the league. Costa heads the Primera Division scoring charts alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, seven ahead of their nearest rivals.

The Atletico spearhead signed a new contract in August that extended his agreementuntil 2018 but it is understood a fresh buy-out clause of around £30 million was inserted in the deal.

Arsenal have made contact with Costa's representatives as they lay the foundations for a serious assault on the January market. They have been alerted to the potential availability of the player, who is believed to be on a relatively low wage at Vicente Calderon.

Olivier Giroud has almost single-handedly led the Gunners' attack this season, with Nicklas Bendtner brought back into the fold in late September to provide the only senior alternative to the Frenchman.

Wenger’s priority remains to capture a top striker after moves for Luis Suarez, Gonzalo Higuain, Stevan Jovetic and Wayne Rooney all fell through last summer, while the Gunners were also unable to agree a last-ditch loan deal for Chelsea’s Demba Ba.