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Southampton hope to fend off Arsenal for Adrian Lopez
ARSENAL face stiff competition to sign Atletico Madrid's Adrian Lopez in the summer.
Lopez has been a long-term Gunners target, and with Arsene Wenger set to be given a £70m war chest, money shouldn't be too much of an issue.
Wenger has also been keeping tabs on Lopez's team-mate Diego Costa, as he looks to bolster his firepower.
But now Southampton are ready to hijack Arsenal's bid to sign Lopez.
Spanish football website Inside Spanish Football claims Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino was keen on Lopez during his time as Espanyol coach and is ready to pounce for him after hearing Atletico are willing to sell him.
They also believe that the Argentine coach is prepared to spend £8m to land Lopez's signature.
Lopez has struggled to cement a regular place in the first team this season having been forced out by Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao.
He smashed home 19 goals in his first season with the La Liga outfit.