Arsenal have reportedly made a ‘player-plus-cash’ offer to sign Fiorentina forward Dusan Vlahovic this month.
Vlahovic has emerged as a transfer target for Europe’s leading clubs following a sensational 2021 with Fiorentina, scoring 33 league goals to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s divisional record for the calendar year.
The 21-year-old is the leading scorer in Serie A this season with 16 goals from 19 appearances and the Italian media are reporting that Arsenal have made a move to sign Vlahovic ‘immediately’.
Gazzetta dello Sport are reporting that Arsenal have now tabled a ‘player-plus-cash offer’ for the Serbia international, offering £46m (€55m) and midfielder Lucas Torreira. Torreira is currently on loan at Fiorentina and has made 14 league starts for the Italian side, who sit seventh in Serie A.
Fiorentina are understood to be prepared to sanction his sale after Vlahovic – who has 18 months remaining on his current deal – turned down the chance to sign a new contract that would have made him the highest-paid player in their history.
His arrival would represent a significant boost to the Gunners’ Champions League hopes, with Arsenal fourth in the Premier League following a recent upturn in form.
Arsenal will be hopeful their bid is enough to beat off competition from the likes of Man City, Tottenham, Juventus and Inter Milan to secure Vlahovic’s signing, as Mikel Arteta seeks the addition of a centre-forward at the Emirates.
The club’s current options face uncertain futures, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang having not featured for the north Londoners since being stripped of the captaincy. Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are also out of contract at the end of the season.