Arsenal are planning a £10 million bid for Udinese midfielder Gokhan Inler.
The Daily Star says the Gunners came close to signing the 24-year-old from Udinese in the summer, but with Fabregas out for four months their need has become far more pressing. A fee of around £10m could be enough to persuade the Serie A side to sell Inler, who was the one impressive Swiss player at Euro 2008.
The Gunners had been keeping close tabs on the central midfielder this season, even before Cesc Fabregas' knee ligament damage.
Boss Arsene Wenger confirmed: "We are more likely to buy in January now."