Five forwards Arsenal could sign after losing Vlahovic

Cameron Smith

• 25 Jan 2022 20:02 GMT
• 5 min read

It's becoming a story that rewrites itself every year. The same script, different actors - Arsenal losing out on their main transfer targets is becoming like a Hollywood film that keeps appearing in the cinemas.

Emiliano Buendia, Sergio Ramos and Manuel Locatelli just last summer, and Luis Suarez and Thomas Lemar in the more distant past. Dusan Vlahovic is also readying himself to be put on that list with multiple sources reporting that his move to Juventus is all but completed.

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According to Sky Italia, Juventus have agreed a €75 million (£62.8m) deal to sign Vlahovic from Fiorentina this month. Negotiations have been ongoing for a while, but despite interest from Arsenal, Vlahovic reportedly wasn't keen on moving to North London, and favoured remaining at Fiorentina or a move to Turin.

The Serbian forward has just 18 months left on his deal at Fiorentina, hence why the club are keen to shift him this window. But, Arsenal's interest was soon dismissed by the player, which is a worrying sign for the future of the Gunners' ability to attract the best talents in Europe.

However, despite missing out on Vlahovic, there are still plenty of high quality options that Arsenal could pursue in order to fill their centre-forward void.

Alexander Isak

He flourished on the international stage when thrust into the limelight at Euro 2020, and Alexander Isak could do the same if Arsenal take a chance on him in the summer.

The Swedish striker has well and truly bounced back from his tough spell at Borussia Dortmund, and has found his rhythm at Real Sociedad.

His 17 league goals last year certainly caught the eye, and while he's not quite hit those heights this year, four league goals before January, he could easily rediscover that killer instinct at the Emirates.

Jonathan David

From one extreme to the other, and one forward in Isak not hitting top form, to one in Jonathan David who is playing the best football of his life this campaign.

It took a little while for Victor Osimhen's replacement at Lille to get up and running for the side from North France, but now he's found his stride he's not looked back.

Currently the second top-scorer in Ligue 1, behind Wissam Ben Yedder, David is running Lille's attack, even though the side have faltered this campaign, and he's the sole reason Jocelyn Gourvennec's side are still in with a shout of a top four finish.

Plucking him from Lille will be far easier than this time last year, but given interest from Liverpool, Arsenal will have to fight off serious competition for his signature.

Raul de Tomas

An underrated talent for so many year, at 27 Raul de Tomas is ready for a big move now.

In fact, it's almost a case of now or never for him to leave Spain. He's been through thick and thin, including playing more games in the Spanish second tier than La Liga, but De Tomas will surely be dreaming of a transfer away now.

He's scored 74 goals in the second division in his homeland, but the step up to La Liga has never seemed to faze him, which makes it all the more bizarre that he spent so much time in the lower leagues.

He bagged 14 league goals for Rayo Vallecano in 2018/19, and while he only scored four for Espanyol in 2019/20, they came in just 14 appearances.

This year, back in La Liga following Espanyol's promotion, he's already hit double digits, and is currently only behind Karim Benzema in the division's scoring charts.

This would be a bold move from Arsenal, but one that could work out.

Gianluca Scamacca

If last campaign was the year Gianluca Scamacca experienced his breakout onto the main stage, eight goals on loan at Genoa, then this season has been the one in which he's announced himself to the big clubs around Europe.

With nine league goals in just 12 starts, Scamacca is quite simply tearing Serie A apart, and it won't be long before a big club notices that and makes a move.

In Arsenal's case, that's why they need to act fast. With underlying numbers to match any number nine in Europe, Scamacca has arguably been better than Vlahovic this season if you take penalties out the equation.

The Serbian's non penalty goals per 90 tally of 0.59 is in the top 10% of forwards in Europe's top five leagues, but Scamacca is currently operating at 0.68 non penalty goals per 90 - an even better rate.

Now, he's not a better player, but he soon could be, and he'd be far better value for a club like Arsenal.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

The final option is shopping a little closer to home. Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn't enjoyed the 2021/22 season, with injuries playing their part, but Arsenal remain interested.

The Gunners were first linked with the England international last summer, but a move never materialised. Six months on, and speculation is still surrounding a potential deal, although given his nationality, he'll likely cost more than the other options.

With Everton now being dragged into a relegation fight, they won't be keen on selling their prized asset for cheap, so it would take a mammoth bid, with the kind of money Arsenal don't have, to prise him away.

If they could manage a move, however, it would be excellent business for a player who is proven at Premier League level.