Dusan Vlahovic is a free agent after his Juventus contract expired and the striker could be a valuable addition to Arsenal’s ranks this summer
Arsenal have an opportunity to finally secure Dusan Vlahovic after he was described as “sensationally wrong” for joining Juventus. The Serb striker is now a free agent as of this week following the conclusion of his contract in Turin on Wednesday.
Vlahovic, 26, was among Europe’s most sought-after forwards when he departed Fiorentina in a £66million transfer four years ago. Arsenal were reported to have submitted an offer worth approximately £60m that same summer in 2022 before he opted for Juve instead.
Mikel Arteta appears satisfied with Viktor Gyokeres as his frontman, while Kai Havertz excelled during the Premier League crown campaign when available. Nevertheless, in the pursuit of building upon their first top-flight title in 20 years, it may be prudent for Arsenal to add another forward of a comparable profile to their squad.
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Speaking on Christian Vieiri’s Twitch channel, Bobo TV, in 2022, former Italy striker Antonio Cassano said: “In my opinion, [Vlahovic’s decision] is sensationally wrong..
“For the type of player I think he is, he needed to make an intermediate step to a team like Arsenal, Tottenham [Hotspur], or Sevilla, who signed [Anthony] Martial. For me, you know, he has always been a second-tier player.”
Many Arsenal supporters will raise an eyebrow at Vieri’s characterisation of Arsenal as an “intermediate” club, for a start. At the time of those remarks, Juve had finished fourth in consecutive Serie A seasons while Arsenal were on the cusp of their ascent to title contention under Arteta.
Regardless, the Gunners have hardly suffered from not having Vlahovic in their squad. They clinched the Premier League in their first campaign after bringing in Gyokeres as their new centre-forward, though they may now look to bolster their striking options beyond the Swede.
Vlahovic responded to Vieri’s assertions and addressed the speculation surrounding Arsenal’s approach for his signature. It appears the north Londoners were always fighting an uphill battle once the Bianconeri entered the picture.
“Maybe my agent knows [about Arsenal’s offer], but I never talked to anyone about it,” he told The Telegraph. “I just had one club in my mind because Juventus is Juventus. There is nothing else to say.
“And now I feel honoured to be given this jersey. It’s incredible every time I put it on. I definitely identify with their DNA. The Juventus personality coincides with my personality.
“When you come here you never give up, you fight all the time, you make the sacrifices. This was definitely what I was looking for.”
Whether that same sense of loyalty remains today is very much open to interpretation. Vlahovic found himself on the periphery last season, making just 13 starts from 23 appearances in total, though the fact he still managed to net 10 goals in that time speaks volumes about his quality.
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Furthermore, the attacker is far from a spent force at just 26. A record of 68 goals and 16 assists in 168 appearances for Juve amounts to a direct goal contribution every other match, which will undoubtedly make him one of the most coveted free agents on the market.
As with most transfers, the finances will ultimately prove decisive, and reports indicate Vlahovic’s wage demands could be substantial. Nevertheless, he remains a prospect well worth pursuing if he is prepared to make certain compromises to complete a move that has been nearly five years in the making.
