Macedonian on his way?

Arsene Wenger insisted yesterday that he will be keeping a close eye on the transfer market as it reopens and that can only mean one thing, that he will be strengthening his squad with at least one addition come the end of the month.

A number of players have been linked to the club in recent weeks, the majority of which are strikers, understandable given the injuries to Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Eduardo.

Wenger said that there may be bargains available during the window and he is right. Brazilian international Adriano is scoring goals for fun at Flamengo in his homeland and may be worth a gamble on a free transfer. Luca Toni, meanwhile, who led the line for the victorious Italian 2006 World Cup team, will be allowed to leave Bayern Munich for a nominal fee after falling out with Louis van Gaal, the coach. Another Arsenal target, Marouane Chamakh, the Bordeaux forward, may also be available for a bargain price as his contract expires in the summer. But there is another name to add to the list who may prove to be the bargain of the year.

Goran Pandev has today be granted release from his contract at Lazio after a contractual dispute ongoing since last summer. The Macedonian international has not played in Serie A all season and will therefore be a little rusty, but also very fresh. The 26 year-old has scored 22 goals in 52 internationals and 48 in 159 games for Lazio. Pandev is seen as one of his country's leading players and his two recent goals against Spain has seem him become his country's leading scorer. Although smaller than van Persie, Pandev has the skill element to match his game.

The likes of AC Milan, Liverpool and Tottenham, as well as Arsenal, have been linked to the forward in the past and Wenger may now look to revive his interest.

Lukaku worth a gamble

Romelu Lukaku is a name many in England would not have heard of, but the young Belgian is certainly becoming a prominent figure in his own country.

Dubbed the "new Didier Drogba", Lukaku is making waves in Anderlecht's first team, scoring eight goals in 14 appearances, all from the bench, and this is despite him being only 16 years-old.

The powerful forward, of Belgian-Congolese decent, has long been thought of as a future star, but many would not have expected his reputation to have grown quite so quickly. Despite assertions from the forward's father that he will not move before he finishes school at the age of 18, Anderlecht will be bracing themselves for bids during the January transfer window.

Arsenal could well be at the head of the queue for the £15 million-rated player as key striker Robin van Persie is out for five months, second-choice frontman Nicklas Bendtner is currently injured and Eduardo continues to succumb to niggling injuries since returning from his leg-break.

Arsene Wenger keeps a keen eye on Belgian talent, in the past insisting that he knows all about the best young Belgians coming through the system. The likes of Lille's Eden Hazard and Standard Liege's Steven Defour and Axel Witsel have been linked with a move to Arsenal to join fellow countryman Thomas Vermaelen in recent months and Lukaku could be another name to add to the list.

Some would argue that Arsenal already have enough young strikers and an experienced forward is needed if the club is to win some long-awaited silverware this season, but Lukaku could be a gamble worth taking if he continues his development at the vast rate he has so far in his career.

Arsene Wenger admits to missing out on Drogba having waited too long to bid for the striker while at Guingamp, surely he wouldn't want to make the same mistake again.

Watch more of Lukaku below: