Arsenal make late move to snatch Loic Remy from Newcastle

The Marseille striker is expected to move to the Premier League this month

Arsenal have joined the race to sign Loïc Rémy from Marseilles in a deal that could cost them £10m.

Arsène Wenger has identified the 26-year-old striker as the forward his side needs to add quality and goals to their attempt to catch Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea and finish in the Premier League top four. Sources in France tonight insisted strong interest from Arsenal makes them favourites to land the France international.

Rémy has already attracted interest from Queen's Park Rangers, Newcastle, Schalke and Internazionale during the January transfer window.

Harry Redknapp, the QPR manager, flew to France at the weekend but even armed with a deal worth potentially £4m-a-year, could not convince the striker that moving to the Premier League's basement club was for him.

Newcastle have similarly been involved in talks for Rémy, who has scored four times in 17 appearances for France, and they could now be involved in a two-way fight for the striker with Arsenal. Marseilles are prepared to let him leave during the transfer window, though Rémy did fly to their training camp in Morocco and played in a 2-1 friendly win against a local side on Wednesday.

Rémy, who grew up an Arsenal fan, has not ruled out the possibility of staying with Marseilles for the rest of the season but the interest from the north London club is sure to have turned his head.

He cost Marseilles £14m when he moved to Stade Vélodrome in 2010 from Nice. In his first two seasons Rémy scored 37 goals in all competitions, but this campaign has been a struggle.

Inter had been keen on a move for the forward, but they preferred to offer a player as part-exchange in the deal and that has not appealed to Marseilles. Wenger is also keen on Anderlecht holding midfielder Lucas Biglia.