Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Dusan Vlahovic as Mikel Arteta look to add a striker to their ranks with Fiorentina conceding they will lose their prized this month
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Arsenal have made a major breakthrough in the pursuit of Dusan Vlahovic with Fiorentina determined to move the striker on this month.
The Gunners have made the Serbian their number one target in January as they look to add a striker to their ranks.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks set to depart the Emirates after he was stripped of the captaincy, while Alexandre Lacazette’s contract expires in the summer.
Mikel Arteta reckons Vlahovic’s arrival could solidify their quest to finish inside the top four this season and qualify for the Champions League.
And it seems a deal could be heading in the right direction as reports coming out of Italy suggest Fiorentina want Vlahovic to depart this month as they have been unable to get their prized asset to sign a contract extension.
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With 18 months left on his current deal, the Serie A club don’t want to risk letting Vlahovic head into the summer entering the final year of his contract.
It’s understood Vlahovic’s representatives have been demanding a £6.6million fee to seal a renewal at Fiorentina plus 10 per cent of any potential transfer fee.
And La Repubblica claims the forward’s ‘future is moving further and further away from Florence,’ as a result, with Fiorentina determined to get maximum value for the striker now.
Ian Wright has urged his former club to get a deal for Valhovic over the finish line.
“Arsenal have done fantastic business up until this point,” Wright said on The Kelly and Wrighty Show. “I believe they do need to get another striker, even if everything can be sorted with Aubameyang.
“I’m hearing Vlahovic from Fiorentina. We need that player who can be between Lacazette and Aubameyang.
“I don’t know what’s happening with Laca, I’d love him to stay, I don’t know what’s happening with him, and we don’t know what’s happening with Aubameyang.
“But if we can get that striker, that hard-running striker who is good at the link-up play and is a good finisher – which Vlahovic is – then you’re starting to think it’s starting to happen now for Arsenal.”
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More details also emerged this weekend of Arsenal’s deal for Emerson Royal in the summer that fell through before he eventually moved to Tottenham.
Arsenal were in the hunt for a right-back towards the end of the window and in discussions with Barcelona over a move for the Brazilian.
Talks were at an advanced stage as sporting director Edu got in touch with the player, but Mikel Arteta intervened to block the deal as the Spaniard wasn’t convinced, according to The Guardian.
Consequently, Arsenal pulled the plug and secured a deal for Takehiro Tomiyasu on Deadline Day, who has been a standout performer in his debut season, while Emerson Royal would move to city rivals Spurs.
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