Arsenal Consider Hijacking Tottenham's Move for Argentine - Report

Arsenal are reportedly considering a move for Roma winger and Tottenham target Erik Lamela.

The Giallorossi's director of football, Walter Sabatini, is reportedly in London to meet with Spurs chiefs and broker a deal for the Argentine. However, reports from Italy claim negotiations failed to find a breakthrough, with the transfer fee the problem.

According to the Metro and La Gazzetta dello Sport‎, Tottenham's arch-rivals Arsenal have now entered the race for Lamela and made enquiries to Roma regarding the availability of the 21-year-old. It is believed the Italians value the player in the £30m region and will listen to offers if a suitor is willing to match that figure.

Arsene Wenger is under pressure to make high-profile signings after a disastrous transfer window so far. The Frenchman has failed to sign any of his stated targets, despite considerable funds being available, and the club lost their first game of the 2013/14 Premier League season to last year's relegation-battlers Aston Villa.

Lamela, who joined Roma from River Plate in a €14m deal in 2011, notched 15 goals and five assists from 33 Serie A appearances last season. The youngster earned his first senior international cap with Argentina two years ago.

Arsenal could now be prepared to go head-to-head with Spurs for Lamela, after failing to sign any of the players they wanted to improve their attack. The Gunners missed out on Stevan Jovetic and Gonzalo Higuain, while top target Luis Suarez now seems set to stay at Liverpool.

However, Spurs could hold the edge over Arsenal in any negotiations for Lamela, due to the presence of their director of football Franco Baldini, who had been working at Roma till last season.

Roma are keen to move either Lamela or midfielder Miralem Pjanic off their wage bill in this window. The Giallorossi are understood to be holding out for at least €35m (£30m) for Lamela, while the Spurs offer has not gone above €30m (£25.7m) so far.

Lamela's agent had recently revealed Tottenham are not close to signing the player yet.