Arsenal are currently facing a period of transition, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang nearing retirement and Alexandre Lacazette on the verge of leaving. The Gunners want to replace their top strikers who will serve them long term and the latest reports suggest that the club are interested in signing the highly-rated Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic.
Vlahovic only has 18 months left on his current deal and club president Rocco Commisso said in an official statement that the player will not be signing an extension. It is quite clear that Fiorentina are hoping to sell the player for a hefty fee and not risk losing him as a free agent.
Arsenal were linked with the player in the summer transfer window but no concrete offer was made. The Gunners were rumoured to have agreed to a deal in principle for a fee in the region of €70-80m and are looking to finalize the deal before the end of the January transfer window.
However, Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano played down the rumours stating that there have been no talks between the two clubs. And according to reports from Calciomercato (via the Mirror), the club are facing stiff competition from Juventus, who are very interested in signing the 21-year-old.
There are currently no talks ongoing between Dušan Vlahovic agents and Arsenal board. Gunners are among many club following Vlahovic situation – but there’s nothing advanced as of today. 🇷🇸 #AFC
Fiorentina want €70/80m to sell Vlahovic in January. He’s out of contract in 2023.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 9, 2021
Vlahovic already has 10 goals in 13 games across all competitions and is currently one of the hottest prospects in Europe. Several top clubs like Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Juventus are closely monitoring his situation.
Transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed that Arsenal’s attempts to sign the player are proving futile, telling Sky Italia:
“In January it is an impossible operation because Fiorentina are asking for €80m (£68.4m).”
“In June, Juve are in the running as well as many teams. The team most interested in Vlahovic for January is Arsenal. The English club has established a dialogue more than positive with Fiorentina and would be willing to satisfy the requests of the Viola club to reach an agreement.”
“The problem is that Arsenal are unable to speak to the player’s agents, they do not answer the phone. The Gunners want to talk to the boy to explain their project to him, but these lack of answers make it impossible to enter into a negotiation.”
Claudio Pasqualin, Dusan Vlahovic’s agent, has revealed that “the existence of bigger offers” is the reason behind his client’s decision to turn down Arsenal’s advances and that he is weighing the “economical aspect” of the offers that are on the table for the player.
According to his agent, Real Madrid could be a possible destination for the Serbian international should the Spanish giants make a suitable offer. Pasqualin told Firenze Viola (via The Metro):
“The reason is the existence of bigger offers”
“Evidently, he has contacts, relationships and prospects with teams that offer more.”
“Arsenal is one of the most coveted teams in the world, but if there is Valladolid offering twice as much, you think about it… I see the economic aspect as more important.”
“The route he is following is based more on economic needs… but maybe there is Real Madrid behind him, and he goes to play there: it would not be shocking; he has the numbers to do it.”
Read More:
- Arsenal Target Two Fantastic Premier League Strikers as Alexandre Lacazette Replacements
- Arsenal Receive Transfer Boost as Real Madrid Put £34m Price Tag on Spanish Midfielder
The left-footed Serbian striker is one of the most prolific young strikers every top team are looking to have in their ranks. With his physicality and exquisite finishing ability, it is a no-brainer that Vlahovic is a perfect fit for the Premier League.
Whether or not Arteta can strike up a deal for Dusan Vlahovic in the January transfer window remains to be seen, but if he does, it will certainly be a major boost for his rebuilding process.
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