Arsenal have received transfer boost in their attempts to sign Dusan Vlahovic in winter transfer window.
With the striker’s contract expiring in 18 months’ time, his club are ready to cash in now and have, according to Italian outlet Corriere Della Sera Arsenal have tabled an offer of £52.8 (€70m) plus Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira, who is currently on loan at Fiorentin for the service of the Fiorentina talisman.
Lucas Torreira and Dusan Vlahovic celebrate after scoring during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Genoa. ( Getty Images)
Speaking this morning, Fiorentina director Joe Barone told La Nazione.
“There will be some exits but we will also be very careful,” He said.
“The market is not closed. Some English teams have contacted Fiorentina but there is no agreement. In any case, we are available [for talks].
Also, Barone took dig at the Serbian’s agent, Davide Torchia, for his role in the ongoing saga.
“Zero,” he replied when asked if he there had been contact from Vlahovic’s agent.
“And if you remember, I asked for clarity. I asked his agent to be clear, but still nothing. No contact.
According to The Athletic, the north Londoners are pushing for the Fiorentina star this month and are currently ‘best placed’ of the Serbian’s suitors.
However, Vlahovic’s agent has been the one delaying the transfer as the report claims and it can go through once negotiations with Vlahovic’s agent are complete.
Italian journalist Gianluca Di Mario has claimed the Gunners will need to pay an £8.3 million commission fee to the player’s agent, which is certainly an expensive amount that Arsenal have not been accustomed to agree on in the past
Arsenal & Agents Fued – Unending Saga
Arsenal have been reluctant to fill the pockets of players’ agents in the past.
Arsenal missed out on Lyon star Houssem Aouar because of his demands from his agent, according to reports.
Houssem Aouar of Lyon (Getty Images)
The France international was on Mikel Arteta’s radar throughout the transfer window. But a deal didn’t happen, with the 22-year-old eventually staying put.
Furthermore, Hazard was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal prior to joining Chelsea, but a possible deal fell through after the Gunners were not willing to meet the player’s agent demands.
Former Arsenal transfer chief Dick Law speaking to Goal correspondent Charles Watts:
Did we miss out on talents? Certainly. I remember sitting in meetings with [chief scout Steve Rowley, CEO Ivan Gazidis and manager Arsene Wenger] and gnashing our teeth over Thibaut Courtois. We knew he was good.
“Eden Hazard as well; we wanted to do that deal. But there was a sense of responsibility and running the club prudently, all the time knowing that every £1 we spent we had to act as if it was our money. It was very, very difficult.
That seems to be a similar case with the Vlahovic situation, as the main sticking point in securing the signature of the Serbian striker is due to the requests of his agent.
Speaking after Arsenal’s 2:0 defeat to Liverpool in Carabao 2nd leg. Arteta was frustrated about the lack of display put forward by his players.
“In the first half certainly when we had the chances we hit the bar, and you have to score and in the second half in the beginning it’s the same thing.”
But when that happens that’s difference. The first time they came forward past our half way line they scored a goal with a bit of luck. That changes the tie.”
Speaking about the prospect of bringing new players in, Mikel Arteta said this week:
‘The team are working extremely hard to get the players that we want and we have no news to give you.
‘We have a plan to try to bring players in and try to get the players we want with the right qualities and improve the squad in the best possible way every single window.’
Merson Urged Arsenal to get Vlahovic at all cost.
Arsenal icon Paul Merson has urged his old side to sign a centre-forward following their 2-0 loss to Liverpool in Thursday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “They need a striker and they’re not making millions of chances so they need someone who’s going to be putting the ball in the back of the net.
Until they get a centre-forward who’s going to get them 20, 25, goals a season and then we’re talking again.
They’ve had your [Thierry] Henry’s, Ian Wright’s, people like that – they need a top centre-forward. You very rarely win anything without a centre forward.”
Vlahovic’s Fiorentina Replacement.
Fiorentina director Joe Barone told La Nazione.
“I have always been focused on the group and not on the individual. It is the group which carries on what we are doing and moving forward this season. You see them for yourself.
“Once you do well, you may have 50 per cent of the team down to one player. Then the protagonist becomes another player. And the next time another.”
Fiorentina have both completed the signing of Jonathan Ikone from Lille for a reported €15million fee this month and Krzysztof Piątek on loan from Hertha with an the option to buy at the end of this season.
Piatek, The former Genoa and Milan replaced Vlahovic in Copa Italia and quickly got on the scoresheet by putting Fiorentina ahead in the extra time against Napoli in a match which later ended in Fiorentina’s 5-2 victory.
Krzysztof Piatek comes on as a substitute during the Coppa Italia match between SSC Napoli and ACF Fiorentina ( Getty Images)
“What a game! The best way to start with the Fiorentina jersey,” he stated.
“Great battle, keep going like this! The pistols are still loaded.”
El Pistolero isn’t a not an unfamiliar figure in Serie A. The former Genoa hitman managed to get under the spotlight, by scoring 19 goals in 21 games played throughout 2018/19, before his adventure at San Siro.
After a promising start, El Pistolero would score a total of 16 goals in 41 appearances. One year latter Piatek was shipped to Hertha Berlin for €24 million.
Just like Ciro Immobile after his unfortunate spell in Germany, he’s back in the league again and If Vlahovic leaves, Fiorentina can count on him to lead the attack in his absence.