Arsenal are hoping to arrange a swap deal between Nicolas Pepe and Dejan Kulusevski in the upcoming January transfer window.
According to a report from Calciomercato, Arsenal are among the clubs interested in the services of Dejan Kulusevski. The Juventus forward is one of the players likely to be offloaded by the Serie A giants in the upcoming January transfer window, which has put the Premier League giants are on alert.
It appears Mikel Arteta is keen on offensive reinforcements in January and sees Kulusevski as the perfect fit. In order to secure his services, Arsenal are prepared to propose a swap deal involving him and Nicolas Pepe. Juventus, though, are only interested in cash payment and value their attacker at around €30-35 million.
Formerly of Atalanta, Kulusevski has fallen out of favour in Turin. He has struggled with form and game-time during his time at Allianz Stadium. In 62 competitive matches for Juventus, the Swede has netted only eight goals, three of which have come in the Italy Cup, primarily against lower-ranked opposition.
Kulusevski is yet to even score a single goal in Serie A this term. His lack of productivity upfront has forced Massimiliano Allegri to consider a permanent sale in January.
The 21-year-old is not the only player tipped to leave Juventus in the winter transfer window, as he is joined by Aaron Ramsey and Weston McKennie. The latter is a target for Tottenham Hotspur, who are even reportedly leading the race to sign the American international.
As for Kulusevski, he has emerged as a top target for Arsenal, with Arteta seemingly desperate to shore up his options in the final third. The Juventus forward is likely being considered as a long-term replacement for Alexandre Lacazette, whose current contract at Emirates expires at the end of the season.
The Frenchman has been linked with a January exit to Sevilla, among other clubs across Europe. It appears the Gunners are also keen on sanctioning the sale of Nicolas Pepe, although it might be difficult for them to find suitors that are willing to meet their €30-35 million demands. As a result, they are considering using him in a swap deal involving Kulusevski, but Juve do not find that proposal appealing.
It could ultimately turn out to be a problem for Arsenal, as they must offload at least one of their major attackers before they can afford Kulusevski in January. While Lacazette is the likely candidate, it won’t be surprising to see Eddie Nketiah following suit as the Gunners brace themselves for an overhaul in the attacking unit.
