Arsenal have been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit of Dusan Vlahovic, with Tottenham considered a much better option for the Serbian striker.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio’s interview with Wettfreunde, Arsenal may not be an option for Dusan Vlahovic despite apparent interest from the Gunners, with the Sky Italia journalist suggesting Tottenham could have the upper hand in the chase.
After Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, Dusan Vlahovic could become the most sought after name next summer. After the current season, the Serbian is set to leave Fiorentina, with a big move to the Premier League on the cards.
Fiorentina were eager to tie him down to a new contract, which he has refused to sign, thus opening the door to a move elsewhere. The Italian side might have been eager to put him on the market as soon as January to exact a high value from potential suitors. However, the striker seems keen to finish the season with the club as he aims to help them compete for European places.
Moreover, he is keen to lift the top scorer accolade at the end of the season as he leads the Serie A goalscoring charts. There is significant interest from Premier League sides for the striker while Juventus are also keen, although they might be priced out of the deal due to high agent fees and Vlahovic’s huge wage demands.
Arsenal have shown an interest in the Serbian international and are prepared to pay Fiorentina’s asking price. However, Di Marzio highlighted that Vlahovic’s agents are refusing to entertain the Gunners as they wait on offers from other Premier League sides such as Tottenham or Manchester City.
There were reports earlier that Vlahovic had second thoughts about signing for Arsenal, which could allow arch-rivals Tottenham to make a move. Di Marzio thinks Manchester City may not be an option owing to Pep Guardiola’s fluid style of play. The lack of a proper function for a No. 9 may render a player such as Vlahovic powerless in that system. However, the journalist doesn’t rule out a move to Tottenham.
Tottenham have been heavily linked with a move for Vlahovic since last summer when Harry Kane was tipped to leave the club and join Manchester City. While a transfer never materialised for the England captain, Spurs have maintained their interest in the Serbian, with Antonio Conte keen on bringing him to north London.
Stylistically, Di Marzio believes Vlahovic could play alongside Kane for a few years before ultimately replacing the England captain in the long-term future. Conte and director Fabio Paratici are reportedly discussing spending a huge sum on the striker next summer, as Spurs could become a realistic option for the Serbian.
As things stand, the race for Vlahovic is wide open, which could see clubs scrambling for his signature next summer. However, it will evidently take a lot of money and a near-perfect project to convince the Serbian international to sign for any team that remain interested.
