A long-time Arsenal transfer target, Dusan Vlahovic, could potentially be on his way to the Emirates in the summer after all.
That is according to Tuttosport, which says Arsenal are once again interested in the Serbian front-man. However, the asking price for Dusan Vlahovic could prove a problem. It is suggested that Juventus technical director Cristiano Giuntoli wants to receive around €60 million for the striker.
Arsenal desperate for striker reinforcement this summer
Mikel Arteta has recently conceded in a press conference that Arsenal do not have a striker who is good enough to score “at least 35 goals a season.” The Gunners have been heavily linked with numerous big names for a while now as Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Eddie Nketiah continue to either disappoint or not be prolific enough.
The trio has only scored 18 goals between them in the Premier League this season, with Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Martin Odegaard shouldering much of the responsibility in the final third. While Arsenal have still managed to mount a title bid, the North Londoners struggled to impress in the UEFA Champions League without a talisman.
In fact, an Arsenal striker has failed to score in each of the Gunners’ knockout games. The Gunners are reported to be in the market for a dynamic centre-forward profile. It is believed that Arteta wants somebody who offers great versatility to his frontline.
Dusan Vlahovic back on Arsenal’s radar
As such, Dusan Vlahovic has once again caught the attention of Arsenal, who are eyeing the 24-year-old Serbian international as a potential key signing for the upcoming summer transfer window. The Gunners are long-term admirers of Vlahovic and just missed out on landing him when he joined Juventus in 2022.
The Serb has enjoyed his best season to date in Turin despite some struggles for Juventus themselves, with 16 goals to his name so far. His ability to consistently find the back of the net has been a crucial factor in Juventus’s success, and it has also attracted interest from several top European clubs, including Arsenal.
The Serbian striker’s physical presence and ability to hold up play make him a formidable forward, capable of adapting to the physical demands of the English Premier League. Juventus are likely to change managers and part company with Max Allegri, with Bologna’s Thiago Motta on track to succeed him.
This might have an influence on Vlahovic’s future, and it is thought that bringing in Zirkzee is on the table. Juventus are looking for Vlahovic, whose contract expires in 2026, to extend for another two years as they want to spread out his sizeable €12 million-a-year wage package. But if nothing is agreed, they would not hesitate from putting him up for sale.
The latest reports out of Italy suggest Arsenal will be told to fork out €60 million to land his signature in the summer window. It will be interesting to see if the Gunners will firm up their interest or move to alternative options already.
