Dusan Vlahovic: Arsenal learn Juventus stance after Mikel Arteta returns for former transfer target

Fabrizio Romano has revealed whether Juventus are open to selling Dusan Vlahovic next year after Arsenal reportedly put themselves back in the mix to sign him.

Arsenal were heavily linked with Vlahovic amid the striker’s top season with Fiorentina in 2021-22. He managed 17 goals in 21 league matches for La Viola, all before January.

Arsenal were hoping to take Vlahovic to the Emirates as a replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who ended up joining Barcelona on a free transfer.

However, Vlahovic chose to sign for Fiorentina’s Serie A rivals Juventus instead. He joined the Bianconeri on January 28, with the transfer reportedly worth £62.8million (€75m) plus add-ons.

The Serbian soon explained why he went to Juve, telling a press conference: “There were many rumours about foreign clubs, but the choice was easy because the club and I have a similar DNA. Fight and suffer when needed.

“I think it’s part of my mentality as well, so the choice was not difficult.”

Vlahovic went on to call Juve ‘a glorious club’ and said he would ‘give my best for the team’.

He has gone on to register 13 goals in 29 appearances for Max Allegri’s side thus far. He has not been able to replicate his Fiorentina form, but he is still managing to find the back of the net.

Juve know how good Vlahovic is and believe he just needs time before he can turn into one of the world’s best strikers. This should help them massively as they look to win the Serie A title again and get back into the latter stages of the Champions League.

Arsenal backed to return for Dusan Vlahovic

According to a recent report from Italian source Calciomercatoweb, though, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have decided to revisit their interest in Vlahovic.

After losing out on the 22-year-old, they ended up capturing Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City in July. But it seems Arteta wants even more firepower and is gunning for Vlahovic’s signing.

Arsenal are apparently keeping tabs on Vlahovic’s situation and if Juve opt to sell him in the near future, then they will seemingly pounce. They are also looking into a deal for his teenage team-mate Fabio Miretti, who plays in central midfield.

Romano has now given his information on whether Arsenal could land Vlahovic, and it doesn’t seem to be good news for Gunners supporters.

The transfer guru believes Juve are determined to keep him in Turin as they have only recently invested so much money in him.

Transfer expert dispels Arsenal rumour

“At the moment there’s absolutely nothing between Dusan Vlahovic and Arsenal. We can’t predict the future but as of now there’s not even a direct contact,” Romano said during an interview with CaughtOffside.

“Vlahovic is key player for Juventus and they invested €75m plus add-ons for him, so it’s extremely unlikely.

“He was great last season with Juventus, this year all the players are not performing so I don’t think it’s Vlahovic’s fault that he’s not yet performed at his very best.”

It looks like Vlahovic moving to Arsenal is unlikely to happen, in 2023 at least. He will spend the next few seasons trying to become one of Italy’s, and maybe Europe’s, most deadly strikers.

There is good reason to suggest Arsenal don’t need to sign Vlahovic anyway. Jesus has slotted into the team brilliantly and is already on four Premier League goals this season.

He is a Champions League-level striker who should help Arsenal get back into the top four, a feat they narrowly missed out on last season. Plus, Arteta has a decent backup for Jesus in the form of Eddie Nketiah.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s Transfer Gossip claims Arsenal are readying a £44m bid for a classy Croatian midfielder.