Arsenal are now favorites to land Marseille forward Loic Remy having made a late bid to secure the France international from under the noses of Newcastle, according to the Independent.

Both Newcastle and Queens Park Rangers have been linked to Remy this month, with the former looking poised to secure the 26-year-old. It is now thought that Arsenal are primed to complete a deal for a fee in the range of £10 million.

Remy has endured a difficult campaign, starting just two matches in Ligue 1. It is his form in the past two seasons that will have appealed to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, however, as he hit 27 league goals.

Remy has also scored four times in 17 appearances for France, where he has shown his versatility by often operating from the right of the attack. That ability to operate across the front line will doubtless be attractive to Wenger.

Arsenal are thought to be on the lookout for forward reinforcements in this month’s January transfer window. Marouane Chamakh will spend the rest of the season on loan at West Ham, while Gervinho has headed off the African Cup of Nations.

Arsenal may well have decided to move for Remy after Wenger reportedly failed in his attempts to lure Barcelona forward David Villa to the Emirates.

The Gunners have also been heavily linked to another Spanish forward in Atletico Madrid’s Adrian Lopez. The Daily Express reported on Thursday that Arsenal are still in pole position to sign the 25-year-old should he depart in January.

Like Villa, Adrian can operate anywhere across the front line and he has also struggled to replicate his previous form this campaign. Having decided to hang on to Radamel Falcao until at least the summer, it is thought that Atletico may be willing to cash in on Spain international Adrian.

It appears that a third Spanish forward thought to be on Arsenal’s radar will not be joining the Gunners. Sevilla’s Alvaro Negredo is widely thought to be on the market this month, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea all linked to the 27-year-old.

It was reported that Sevilla’s president was in London yesterday looking to negotiate the €20 million (£16.5m) sale of Negredo to ease the club’s financial problems. However, according to the Daily Mail, Sevilla have been in talks with Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham.

Finally, there has been further news in the long-running transfer saga involving Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila. The Ligue 1 club confirmed earlier this week that M’Vila is seeking a move, with Arsenal still being linked, along with Queens Park Rangers.

The Daily Mail now reports that Newcastle are keen to sign the 22-year-old. M’Vila’s stock has fallen in recent times due to a perceived poor attitude that has seen him banned from playing for France at any level until after the 2014 World Cup as a result of an unauthorized night out while on duty with the France Under-21 side.

He could now be available for just £8 million, according to the Mail.