Arsenal FC boss Arsene Wenger had reportedly disclosed his desire to acquire Everton FC striker Romelu Lukaku five years ago when the young forward was still with Belgian Pro League club RSC Anderlecht, recent reports say.

Caught Offside reported that after recently being asked about his estimation on the 22-year-old Belgium international, Wenger had "admitted that he was looking at signing the Everton striker before his switch to Chelsea back in 2011".

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The report also said that Lukaku had gradually and solidly become "one of the best strikers in the English top flight" this season, scoring 18 goals in 28 appearances so far for the Toffees in the domestic league, and is still improving, which said to have caught the eye of many rival clubs in England.

"Yes (we looked at him) since he was young. He opted to go to Chelsea, he is developing every year," said the 66-year-old bench tactician, as reported by Metro. "His finishing is better, his technical is better. He has better numbers."

Wenger had been heavily criticized in recent years about lacking activity and passing up potential game-changing footballers for the Gunners during transfer windows and at the moment a goal scorer is badly needed as ever at the Emirates Stadium.

With talented playmakers such as Mesut Özil, Alexis Sánchez, and Olivier Giroud, Lukaku would "more than likely score even more than he does as the main man at Everton" if he was signed by Arsenal, the report continued.

The Gunners had an up-and-down 2015-2016 season, but ultimately they could be a few games short of a potential 14th Premier League trophy as current league leaders Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur are ahead by 11 and three points from the Holloway, London squad.

Lukaku was permanently signed to a five-year deal by Everton in the summer of 2014 after a season-long loan from Chelsea for a transfer fee of £28 million. 

Tags Football Transfer Rumors, Football Transfer Rumors 2016, Arsenal FC, Arsenal Transfer Rumors, Romelu Lukaku, Arsene Wenger, Everton FC, Everton transfer rumors