"Liverpool" and "Arsenal" in focus - defender Mertesacker © EuroFootball.com

And London clubs are competing for Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker.

According to reports, Liverpool's football director Damien Comolli personally traveled to Germany to watch Mertesacker play and was satisfied with what he saw. He is proposing to the owners not to spare about 10 million pounds and strengthen the defense.

However, London's Arsenal could also compete for the 26-year-old German. Although coach Arsene Wenger cautiously talks about additions during the January transfer window, he does not rule out such a possibility: "If a great opportunity arises, I will take advantage of it. I cannot say that we will not buy anything."