Dusan Vlahovic could snub Arsenal in favour of joining Juventus, although the Serie A giants have not made any offer for the Serbian striker.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Dusan Vlahovic could prefer to join Juventus over a move to Arsenal. The Serb has 18 months left on his contract at Fiorentina, with the Gunners being the only club to have made a reasonable offer until now.
Vlahovic and Arsenal have combined strengths to become the biggest transfer saga of the January window. With only days left ahead of next Monday’s transfer deadline, there is no end in sight as each day we read about a new story, a different angle or a new club joining the chase.
However, Arsenal have had the strongest interest in the striker all along. The Gunners have made a reasonable offer this month, which Fiorentina had reportedly accepted. But Vlahovic’s agent has not been responsive enough to complete the deal and has been ducking away.
Arsenal might have been frustrated with their efforts so far, but they are not giving up the chase just yet. With Fiorentina desperate to sell on the fee the Gunners have offered, the final decision lies with Vlahovic at the moment, who has been awfully quiet on the matter.
Amid all the talk of unresponsive agents or Vlahovic not wanting a move to Arsenal, there are also stories regarding interest from Juventus. The Serie A giants have been keen on signing the Serb, but multiple reports have confirmed their ongoing financial struggles, which might prevent them from making a reasonable offer to Fiorentina.
Many reports also suggested Vlahovic’s preference to stay in Italy and join Juventus, which may come across as a blow for Arsenal. However, without the Bianconeri making a viable offer to Fiorentina, a move to Turin may never transpire.
Considering Juventus’s financial state, they are so far away from matching Arsenal’s offer and certainly cannot afford the wages reportedly offered by the Gunners.
Ideally, if Juventus were to make an offer, it could be argued that Vlahovic might choose them over any other club, although that is not the case yet. There have been stories circulating about the Bianconeri making a €30 million offer plus Dejan Kulusevski, but there have been no confirmations of any kind.
As things stand, Fiorentina are open to selling him to Arsenal, but Vlahovic stalling on a move, hoping for Juventus or a bigger side to make an approach remains the hindering point. This has all the hallmarks of dragging until the last day of the window, with a conclusion nowhere in sight.