With Barcelona circling around Cesc Fabregas like a starving vulture , manager Arsene Wenger - despite his public protestations that his captain will be going nowhere - is surely eyeing up possible replacements for the Spanish superstar.
So who might be on that list? Football Spy runs it's eye over the runners and riders...
1) Mikel Arteta (Everton)
Wenger is a known admirer of the Everton star, who has developed into one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League. The 28-year-old has been at Goodison for six years and is a firm crowd favourite and manager David Moyes is keen to sign him to a new extended contract. At 28, however, Arteta knows his next deal will be the most important one of his career and he could be tempted by a switch to north London and the lure of Champions League football.
Chances of it happening: 6 (out of 10)
2) Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
The mercurial midfielder is one of the best passers of the ball in the Premier League but has slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford and appears to be surplus to requirements. Reports have suggested Fergie would be prepared to offer him to Aston Villa as part of a deal for James Milner, but Carrick would surely prefer a return to the capital where he played for West Ham and Spurs. Wenger tried to buy him when he left Upton Park for White Hart Lane and would probably get his man if he went back in for him again.
Chances of it happening: 6
3) Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid)
The French midfielder won over the Real Madrid fans in the second half of this season after initially being viewed as 'Lassana who?' when he first arrived in Spain from Portsmouth in December 2008. Such is the constant state of flux at the Bernabeu, however, that who knows whether he has a long-term future, especially as there is sure to be another change of manager in the summer with Jose Mourinho arriving. Diarra originally left Arsenal for Portsmouth in January 2008 because he was frustrated by a lack of first-team football. That would not be an issue this time around.
Chances of it happening: 6
4) Marek Hamsik (Napoli)
The Slovakian playmaker is already on the most-wanted list of a number of Europe's leading clubs. Hamsik, who prefers to play in the hole behind the front men, has modelled himself on Czech schemer Pavel Nedved and shares the former Juventus man's eye for goal and for the subtle killer pass. One potential stumbling block is the fact that his value to likely to rocket if he impresses for his country in South Africa this summer and Wenger would be reluctant to meet Napoli's expected £30million asking price.
10 things you need to know about Marek Hamsik
Chances of it happening: 4
5) Stephen Ireland (Manchester City)
City's Player of the Year in 2008-09, his stock fell immeasurably over the course of the past campaign as he found himself out of favour under Roberto Mancini. Has been linked in the past with Liverpool and Arsenal and both are likely to be casting covetous glances towards Eastlands this summer.
Chances of it happening: 7
6) Felipe Melo (Juventus)
Wenger is a known long-term admirer of the Brazilian holding midfielder and tried to sign him from Fiorentina back in 2008. Melo joined Juventus instead - in a whopping €25million deal that also saw Marco Marchionni go the other way - but has struggled to make an impression in Turin, to the extent that Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano voted him the worst player of 2009. That said, national coach Dunga still named Melo in his 23-man squad for the forthcoming World Cup (no messing around with provisional 30s for the Brazilians), and his travails this season mean Melo - and Juve - would be well-disposed to a move. Arsene, get your chequebook out...
Chances of it happening: 9
7) Mark Noble (West Ham)
The Canning Town-born 23-year-old is a Hammer through and through but, after a season of turmoil at Upton Park, he might be open to the idea of a move. Co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold have already announced that every player, except Scott Parker, is available for transfer so that's hardly likely to fill Noble with confidence. Having played 20 times for England at Under-21 level, he knows his chance of breaking into Fabio Capello's senior squad would be massively improved if he were playing on a bigger stage at the Emirates week-in, week-out.
Chances of it happening: 7
8) Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen)
The left-sided midfielder was the star of Germany's European Under-21 winning side last summer and has now broken in to Joachim Loew's starting team. Quick, intelligent and with an eye for goal, the Werder Bremen man gave a glittering display in the crunch win over Russia in Moscow in October that sealed Germany's place in this summer's finals. Just like Hamsik, however, Wenger may find he is out of his price range if he impresses in South Africa.
Arsenal transfer target Mesut Ozil: 10 things you need to know plus video of him in action
Chances of it happening: 4
9) Yaya Toure (Barcelona)
Stories have suggested that the Ivory Coast star will be used as a makeweight in the deal to take Fabregas to the Nou Camp, even though he is not a like-for-like replacement. Toure is more of a holding midfielder, more effective breaking up opponents' play than creating openings at the other end. His agent also insists there is no chance of a move to London for his client, stating firmly: 'Toure is not Cesc, and nor is he going to replace him. He will not be going to Arsenal." There, that told us.
Chances of it happening: 3
10) Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Given his naturally parsimonious nature, Wenger may decide to trouser all of the £30/£40/£50million (delete as applicable) that Barca will eventually be forced to cough up for their former trainee and choose to promote from within. The precocious Wilshere has all the tools to do the job - except the experience, of course - and proved during a loan spell at Bolton this season that he's got the mental and physical toughness to cope with the demands of the Premier League. Don't rule it out.
Chances of it happening: 8
