Arsenal Looking to Step-up Efforts for Juventus Winger Dejan Kulusevski

According to reports in Italy, Arsenal are looking to secure the signature of Juventus attacker Dejan Kulusevski in the coming weeks. Manager Mikel Arteta is said to be a big admirer of the Swedish international and has zeroed in on the player to bolster his team’s attack.

It is no secret that the Gunners are currently in the market for a striker. Their preferred choice striker Aubameyang is 32-years-old and also out of touch at the moment. Youngsters like Martinelli, Saka, Smith Rowe and Odegaard are chipping in with timely goals for the team, but to challenge for a top-4 spot, they need an attacker who can be the team’s focal point inside the opposition box and score 20+ goals in a season.

However, it is next to impossible to grab such a goalscorer in the winter transfer market. So the Gunners need to settle for a player who can score at least once in every 2-3 games, a false number 9. Arteta and Edu have once again begun the trend of scouting and signing young talents, which has been long lost at the Emirates.

Despite spending over £150m in the summer, the Arsenal are targeting reinforcements in the forward role and have decided upon Dejan Kulusevski as their primary target. According to La Repubblica (via The Sun), the Gunners are set to step up their efforts for the pursuit of the Juventus winger, with the club chiefs looking to fly to Italy in the coming weeks to secure a deal.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the club made contacts with the player’s representatives regarding a potential deal. Arsenal are hoping to convince the player to come to North London when they head out to Turin as they consider Kulusevski to be a long-term investment, with the player being just 21 years of age.

The Attacker’s Potential And Market Value

Dejan Kulusevski stands at 6’1″ and is physically strong, especially for his young age. He is versatile and capable of playing at several attacking positions, he can play on either flank and also behind the striker. His splendid passing range and vision allow him to create more chances for the team.

Arsenal fly out for Dejan Kulusevski transfer talks as Pablo Mari tipped for exithttps://t.co/sc3W4oWhtc pic.twitter.com/MjIFZRuJ8T

— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) December 8, 2021

His key qualities are pace, stamina, acceleration, work rate, and good dribbling skills. He also has an above-average striking rate enabling him to score goals, in addition to his chance creating abilities. His comparison to Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah also speaks volumes about his calibre.

Dejan has accumulated 14 goals and 14 assists from 88 appearances in Serie A, which is not bad for a 21-year-old. He produced 4 goals and 3 assists in 35 league appearances last season but has failed to seal a first-team spot under new manager Massimiliano Allegri. The player has only featured for 610 minutes this season in 14 outings.

The player’s young age suits the North London club’s transfer policy perfectly, but his transfer value could be a stumbling block for the Gunners. German website Transfermarkt rates him at £34m while Juventus are expecting an amount close to £34m. However, Arsenal are looking to conclude the deal for Kuluvseski for a cut-price of £25m, plus add-on values.

Whether Arsenal succeed in signing a deal for Kulusevski or not will be decided in the January transfer window Till then, we will have to wait and see what actually happens. What are your opinions on the player? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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