Arsenal report: Dusan Vlahovic to join for £80m, 18 months after he rejected them

By Mark White
published

Arsenal will once again look to sign Dusan Vlahovic, after he picked Juventus over north London in January 2022

Arsenal target Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus reacts after scoring a goal which was disallowed during the Serie A match between Juventus and Salernitana at on September 11, 2022 in Turin, Italy
(Image credit: Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

Arsenal will look to bring Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic to the Emirates Stadium this summer as they look to strengthen their frontline.

In January 2022, the Gunners were rumoured to be very close to striking a deal with Fiorentina over Vlahovic, who had enjoyed a breakout season in Serie A. Ultimately, Juventus won the race for the star.

Instead of signing an alternative, Arsenal waited until the summer to sign Gabriel Jesus. With Mikel Arteta reportedly still desiring a "physical" striker to compete with the Brazilian false nine, however, a return for the Juve hitman could be on the cards – and now, the north Londoners know exactly how much the deal will set them back.

Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring a hat-trick for Arsenal against Sevilla in the Emirates Cup.

Arsenal opted to sign Gabriel Jesus after failing to land Vlahovic in January 2022 (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Arsenal have "never given up" on bringing Vlahovic to the Emirates Stadium and now know that the 23-year-old will set them back £80 million.

The Evening Standard has claimed that Arsenal are interested in the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dusan Vlahovic, Tammy Abraham, Victor Osimhen and Rasmus Hojlund as options, too, as they look to add a Plan B to their attack.

At current, Arteta has Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard as options to play at centre-forward. All four are of a similar build and stature, with on obvious hold-up forward in the style of Vlahovic. 

With Folarin Balogun currently on loan in France and expected to leave in the summer, the Gunners have a fifth option of the same ilk up front – but could cash in on him to raise half the money needed for the Vlahovic deal.

Folarin Balogun

Folarin Balogun is impressing out on loan (Image credit: Getty Images)

Despite doing admirably since their points deduction, Juventus are expected to miss out on Champions League football this season and could well sell a number of players interested in competing in the competition. 

Vlahovic is valued at around €75m by Transfermarkt. 

More Arsenal stories

Ray Parlour says that since football moves in cycles, the next era of dominance in the Premier League could well belong to Arsenal.

Andre Onana is being rumoured for Arsenal's midfield, Bundesliga star Djibril Sow and Dusan Vlahovic have been touted, while existing players are said to be on the cusp of exits. Folarin Balogun is one, being linked with AC Milan.

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Mark White
Mark White
Staff Writer

Mark White has been a staff writer on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, writing pieces for both online and the magazine. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also been to the FA Cup and League Cup finals for FFT and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He once saw Tyrone Mings at a petrol station in Bournemouth but felt far too short to ask for a photo.