Arsenal up the ante for Fiorentina’s young sensation Dušan Vlahović

Gunners test Vlahović’s resolve with improved offer

Arsenal remains vigilant in the hunt for their next first-choice center forward as the club keeps building with manager Mikel Arteta, and has made an improved financial offer for Fiorentina and Serbian international ace Dušan Vlahović.

In a report from Football365, Arsenal is said to have come back to the table with an improved package for Vlahović who is in the midst of a calendar 2021 that has propelled his name onto the shortlist of a handful of top clubs across Europe.

F365 cited a piece in Corriere Fiorentino (via Sport Witness) that listed a total package offer of €80million for the 21-year-old native of Belgrade and FK Partizan academy graduate who is out of contract in Firenze in 2023.

Dušan Vlahović did it again. It’s 29 goals in 39 Serie A games in 2021… and counting. Price still around €70m also if he’s not extending current contract [2023]. ⭐️🇷🇸 #Vlahovic

Fair to remember: Atletico offered €50m + €10m add ons in August, Fiorentina and Vlahović refused. pic.twitter.com/rpjTU6uxcB

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 30, 2021

But there is no guarantee that the offer will prove decisive for Arsenal who would be hoping for a potential January move after the Serbian starlet has ruled out a mid-season move away from I Viola and also rejected a potential move to Atlético Madrid in August in a combined €60million bid that was rejected by both the player and the club.

It does show the right intent from Arsenal, however, as the Gunners are adamant about bringing in a long-term solution that fits the current recruitment profile over the last year at the Emirates.

Striker crisis growing at Arsenal

Movement upfront for Arsenal has to happen – and soon – if the Gunners are to avoid scrambling through their Rolodex in a bid to find a solution to the aging and clinically declining Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as well as the fact that both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah look primed to leave the club in the summer.

Both the French veteran and Hale End graduate are out of contract after the end of the season, with Nketiah recently rejecting an extension of his terms in north London.

That would leave the club with just Aubameyand and Folarin Balogun next season in the center-forward department, with it becoming increasingly clear that the club captain is not nearly as reliable as he once was, with too much responsibility than being thrust on Balogun to potentially lead the line despite currently not being good enough to fight his way through the thicket upfront to earn more minutes under Mikel Arteta.

A move for Dušan Vlahović will be difficult to get over the line, but regardless of that, Arsenal need a solution sooner rather than later.

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This article was edited by
Ben Browning.