Arsenal are reportedly set to battle it out with Manchester United for Carlos Tevez.

Reports in Britain claims Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has identified Tevez as the ideal replacement for Thierry Henry following the Frenchman's move to Barcelona.

But it is thought the London club cannot afford the £28million asking price for a permanent deal and are instead preparing a £9million package to fund his wages and registration rights on a season-long loan.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is also thought to be in the hunt for the Argentine and may also favour a loan deal because of uncertainty over the player's ownership.

Tevez seems certain to leave Upton Park this summer after helping rescue the Hammers from relegation and sources claim it is between United and Arsenal for his services if he chooses to stay in England.

Inter Milan and Real Madrid are also interested, but it is thought Tevez may prefer to stay in England after his representative Kia Joorabchian was last week quoted as saying: "Carlos' heart is really in the Premier League".