Dusan Vlahovic to Arsenal? situation far from straightforward

Arsenal are keeping tabs on Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his attacking options ahead of next season, according to Mundo Deportivo. But is this one worth getting excited about? Probably not.

The Vlahovic Situation

The Serbian hitman is set to walk away from Turin on a free transfer this summer after rejecting Juventus’s £5m-per-year renewal offer — he wants at least £7m and won’t budge. With his contract expiring in June, clubs are circling. Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and now Atletico Madrid have all been linked.

Why Arsenal Are Looking

Gabriel Jesus is entering the final year of his deal and looks likely to leave in search of regular minutes. That opens a gap in the squad — potentially creating room for a third striking option behind Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz.

Why This Deal Probably Won’t Happen

Here’s the problem — Vlahovic isn’t a squad player. He won’t accept a backup role, and frankly, his record doesn’t justify guaranteeing him a starting spot either. Just 66 goals in 166 Juventus appearances is a underwhelming return for a striker of his supposed calibre.

Then there’s the injury issue. He’s missed nearly 50 matches for Juventus, with half of those absences coming this season alone. Arsenal would also need to offer a substantial signing-on fee and inflated wages — a big ask for a player who hasn’t delivered consistently.

The verdict? Arsenal sniffed around Vlahovic back in 2022, and he snubbed them for Juventus. Four years on, the Gunners would be wise to look elsewhere.