Zenit St Petersburg say they are locked in talks with Arsenal in a bid to sign Andriy Arshavin on loan for the rest of the season.
The Russian has slipped well down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium with Gervinho and Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain now ahead of him and a return to his former club could appeal.
The transfer window in his homeland is open until later on this evening so any deal would have to be pushed through before then but Zenit sound confident.
The midfielder would prefer to stay in England but that opportunity passed him by when the January window shut and the player is now desperate to play games ahead of the European Championships.
Zenit general director Maxim Mitrofanov told Russian newspaper Sovietsky Sport: "We talked with them. Let's see how they themselves continue to lead.
"Andrey still wants to play in England.
"(But) For Andrey it is very important to play in the Euros and being at a home club would be a good option in the current situation.
"Therefore, we are discussing the possibility to loan (Arshavin)."