Why Arsenal can FINALLY land Arteta's favourite striker in January

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 11 Dec 2024 10:50 GMT
4 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Talk of a January bid by Arsenal for Dusan Vlahovic is heating up - and there is a good chance that Juventus would consider selling the Serbian striker in the right conditions.

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Rudy Galetti reports this week that Arsenal have once again made an approach to Vlahovic about the possibility of signing the striker.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains a big fan of the 24-year-old, having failed to sign him in January 2022 when he left Fiorentina for Juventus.

Arteta feels that Vlahovic is the number nine that Arsenal are missing as their title challenge falters this season.

And should Arsenal make a bid in January, Juventus would definitely consider selling.

There are a number of reasons for this.

The first is financial. Vlahovic has a contract in Turin that expires in 2026 and renewal talks are not going well.

Vlahovic is the highest-paid player in Serie A on €12 million per season and Juventus are not willing to continue paying him that much given both his underpar performances on the pitch and the club’s new policy of lowering the wage ceiling.

If a new contract can’t be agreed soon - which seems unlikely - Juventus will have no option but to sell Vlahovic in one of the next two transfer windows to avoid losing him on a free transfer in 2026.

Vlahovic’s value will be lower in the summer than it will in January, so Juventus know they can make more money selling next month.

© IMAGO - Vlahovic has disappointed at Juventus

Vlahovic disappoints at Juventus

The second reason for selling Vlahovic is his inadequate performances on the pitch.

Vlahovic rejected a move to the Emirates in favour of joining Juventus for €80m from Fiorentina in January 2022.

At the time Vlahovic was considered the hottest young striking property in Europe after Erling Haaland, scoring a record 33 Serie A goals in the 2021 calendar year for Fiorentina.

But he has generally been a disappointment in his three years in Turin.

He scored just 14 goals in 42 games in his first full season and his overall game was equally disappointing last season despite finding the net 18 times in all competitions.

And this season, despite being under a new manager in Thiago Motta, Vlahovic has continued to be inconsistent in front of goal - despite nine goals in all competitions - and simply not good enough in his overall play.

Vlahovic has been mocked for his inability to play with his back to goal, his heavy first touch, his laboured movement and his inability to link up with his teammates.

Juventus have struggled badly offensively this season and while the reason for this can also be directed at Motta and a horrific injury crisis, the increasing feeling in Turin is that Vlahovic needs to be upgraded.

Coupled with the financial issues surrounding Vlahovic, Juventus will be open to selling the striker.

In order to do so, though, they would need an adequate transfer fee. It has been suggested €60m but Juventus may even consider less.

© IMAGO - Zirkzee is an option to replace Vlahovic

Juventus would also need at least one quality replacement striker lined up. The Bianconeri are already incredibly thin on numbers in attack, as throughout the team. Vlahovic has had no backup all season due to the absence of Arek Milik. Man Utd’s Joshua Zirkzee has been suggested as a possible replacement given he worked well with Motta last season at Bologna.

Juventus would also need to ensure they have enough money from these dealings to invest in the defence. The Bianconeri are decimated defensively after losing Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal to ACL injuries. They need to be able to afford to sign a centre back and full back in January, and that could also come from other sacrifices.

So it will take a lot of manoeuvring from Juventus and their transfer chief Cristiano Giuntoli in January to make a sale viable. But what is for sure, Juventus will consider an Arsenal offer for Vlahovic if it is forthcoming.