Wenger may seek striking solution

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that injuries to his leading strikers could force him to follow Manchester United into the transfer market before the end of this month.

However, with an initial bid for Feyenoord striker Robin van Persie having apparently been turned down, Wenger insisted there was still only a "20%" chance that a new recruit would arrive at Highbury.

This is nevertheless a distinct change from seven days ago, when the Arsenal boss was maintaining that he would save his £10million transfer kitty until the summer as it is now a "dangerous" time to buy.

Arsenal's injury situation would appear to have started to change the Frenchman's mind, while he must also be keeping a close eye on the availability of two other domestic targets Alan Smith and Jermaine Defoe.

Neither Leeds nor West Ham appear willing to sell, at least in public, but Leeds are clearly under serious financial pressure and could still succumb to the right offer if their players refuse to defer wages .

Wenger has, meanwhile, also been linked with a supposed interest in a summer move for Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert and emerging Seville youngster Jose Antonio Reyes.

Either way, what concerns him is that while United have signed Louis Saha, Arsenal have been left with a lack of forward options thanks to a recent spate of injuries and Francis Jeffers' season-long loan deal at Everton.

Wenger will still not select Thierry Henry for tomorrow's FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Middlesbrough, ensuring that his leading scorer gets the rest he needs ahead of the title run-in.

However, that leaves him only with the returning Dennis Bergkamp as an experienced forward option, given that Sylvain Wiltord and Jeremie Aliadiere are still ruled out through injury, while Kanu is now away at the African Nations' Cup finals.

Indeed, it would seem Wiltord's injury is worse than originally thought, with Wenger having initially ruled him out for about 10 days and that was more than 10 days ago.

He revealed: "We have Wiltord and Aliadiere injured and they could be out for weeks. Kanu has gone [to the African Nations' Cup] as well.

"That is why, should the right opportunity come up, I might have to take a chance. At the moment it is 80% no and 20% yes. I have not made up my mind but I only have 10 days left."

Wenger also confirmed: "Dennis Bergkamp is likely to return for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie after missing the past five games with a calf injury but Thierry Henry will be rested."

While Reyes could also be a contender, if the Spanish club drop their £20million valuation, Arsenal must therefore decide whether to pursue their interest in van Persie.

A left-sided player, who has represented the Holland Under-21 team, he is a prized asset at De Kuip and Ruud Gullit, who takes over this summer, wants him to stay.

Van Persie's agent, Erwin Boonacker, has nevertheless insisted: "English football is a dream for Robin and if Feyenoord and Arsenal can come to an agreement, we will start negotiations".