If a report from Italian publication Corriere dello Sport is believed to be true, Arsenal have joined the race for the in-demand Juventus centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic. But they have to fight against Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as European heavyweights Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich ahead of a potential winter transfer.
The 22-year-old Serbia international began his youth career at OFK Beograd before joining city rivals Partizan Belgrade. He eventually broke into their senior side and his emergence grabbed the attention of Serie A outfit Fiorentina in the summer of 2017. After a few months in the academy ranks, Vlahovic secured senior status with his stunning goal-scoring attribute.
Despite strong interest from the Gunners, the Serbian chose to join Juventus for a staggering €70m (plus €10m performance-based bonuses) around a year ago. While he has maintained his form with 13 goals in 25 league appearances since his arrival, Juventus’ downfall could see him plying his trade elsewhere. The club need to raise funds following a premature Champions League exit and the striking sensation is struggling to attune to Massimiliano Allegri’s defensive and conventional tactics.
Vlahovic’s agent Darko Ristic is exploring all the offers and talks in order to secure a move away and Arsenal, with a commanding seven-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League standings, are ready to reignite interest following Gabriel Jesus’ knee injury sustained during his World Cup duties.
The Gunners are flying high in England, thanks to some smart summer signings along with Mikel Arteta’s tactical mastery. Eddie Nketiah has stepped in expertly in Jesus’ absence, also the likes of Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are running the show with energetic, effortless and eye-catching football.
Why Arsenal Must Get The Deal Done
Having said that, there is a lot to play for in the coming days. A few more injuries could ruin their campaign and the club, therefore, must ensure depth as well as quality by roping in new names. Although Vlahovic is a targetman who lacks involvement in the build-ups, his presence upfront would offer a different kind of threat given his directness and poaching trait.
Arsenal, however, need to step up the chase to get the deal done ahead of the other suitors. Chelsea, in particular, are splashing the cash since their summer takeover and it remains to be seen whether they hijack the Vlahovic deal in due course of time.
