Los Che line up Anelka bid

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is keen replace Thierry Henry with the Bolton goal ace, but the Liga side could yet make a late swoop for the former Gunners marksman.

According to L'Equipe, a meeting is expected to take place between Valencia officials on Monday, when they hope to put together a 15 million euro bid for Anelka.

Valencia are searching for a new striker and had been tracking Villarreal's Diego Forlan - currently on Copa America duty - until the Uruguay star opted to sign for Atletico Madrid over the weekend.

That leaves both a transfer budget to spend and a place still to fill at the Mestalla, and new Valencia sporting director Miguel Angel Ruiz is believed to be a big fan of Anelka, having tried to sign ten years ago when in charge at Atletico Madrid.

The capture of the former Arsenal man has now become a priority for Los Che, who under Ruiz' predecessor Amedeo Carboni, had preferred to target David Trezeguet before the Juventus hitman pledged his future to the Bianconeri.

Anelka, who scored 11 Premiership goals for Bolton last season, has already indicated he would leave the Lancashire club if a big name came in for him.

The 28-year-old already has Liga experience, having left Arsenal for Real Madrid in rather acrimonious circumstances back in1999, and is thought to want Champions League football. At Valencia, as well as at Arsenal, he could do that.