Arsenal and Liverpool are set for a bidding war in the final days of the transfer window as the Premier League clubs are considering a move to sign Sporting Lisbon winger Diego Capel.

Diego Capel
Reuters

The Express claims the Spain international is keen to make a move away from the Portuguese outfit. Capel is eyeing for a move to a better league than to the Primeira Liga as Sporting are set to lose him before the window shuts on 2 September.

Brendan Rodgers' side has long maintained their interest in the winger and even made a £3m bid for his services. However, Liverpool's approach was turned down by Sporting as they are looking for a fee around £6m for them to let go their player.

Arsene Wenger has turned his attention to Capel as the Gunners have joined Liverpool in signing him. The report claims that the north London side are likely to make a formal bid in the next few days as the Frenchman targets to bring the 25-year-old to the Emirates.

Wenger has failed to add top class players to his squad this summer and an approach for the Spaniard is unlikely to please the club fans. Meanwhile, Rodgers could also make an approach for Capel after Liverpool allowed Stewart Downing to make a switch to West Ham United earlier in the window.

However, the former Swansea manager confirmed that his side's focus is on signing a central defender after Sebastian Coates is ruled out for the most part of the season with a knee injury during Uruguay's tie against Japan. This could see Arsenal likely to beat Liverpool for Capel's signature.

Meanwhile, Wenger hailed Aaron Ramsey for his performance during Arsenal's 3-0 win over Fenerbahce during the first leg of the Champions League qualifier. Kieran Gibbs opened the scoring in Turkey, which was followed by goals from the Welshman and Olivier Giroud.

The Gunners host Fenerbahce for the second leg of the qualifier at the Emirates on 27 August.

"His improvement is blatant. I said that many times - our fans have to be behind the players because one year ago, nobody would have imagined that Ramsey would be at that level now. You have to believe in your players, especially when they are young. Every month, if they have he right attitude, they will be stronger," Wenger told www.arsenal.com.

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