Arsenal will enter next year’s transfer market with one clear ambition; to strengthen their attacking ranks.
What’s the word?
After Gabriel Jesus was dealt a lengthy injury blow as a result of a knee problem sustained at the World Cup, Edu’s priority in the January window simply has to be on finding new offensive recruits.
Per the Athletic, it’s believed that Ukrainian sensation Mykhailo Mudryk is the number one target but reports from Italy suggest another face is on their radar.
That happens to be Dusan Vlahovic. The Gunners initially wanted to sign him last January before he joined Juventus from Fiorentina in a deal worth around £64m.
However, one year on, and the chase is back on. Ben Jacobs has claimed that he could well leave Turin at some point in 2023 with Tuttosport suggesting in recent days that Arsenal are still ‘aroused’ by the idea of signing the player.
They will have to battle the likes of Manchester United and PSG to secure his signature.
Imagine him and Mudryk
Arsenal are flying high in the Premier League this term with Mikel Arteta’s men sitting in first place as we head into Christmas.
The north Londoners know they will need to bolster their ranks if they are to have any hope of keeping Manchester City behind them and a brand new exciting duo up top could be just the ticket.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Jesus have been the main triumvirate this term, contributing to 30 goals between them in 2022/23, but that will be split up with the introduction of Eddie Nketiah after the World Cup ends.
He will be the main candidate to replace Jesus up top but Vlahovic could expel any need for the former Leeds loanee.
Chased so intensely at the beginning of the year, there is a sense that Arsenal may not want to do business with the Serb and his agent again. That said, there is no denying that he would be a superb acquisition.
Indeed, this is a player who last season found the net on 29 occasions in just 45 outings. A supreme finisher with a wonderful left foot, he has been in similar form throughout the current campaign, scoring seven in 15 appearances.
He carried that form onto the grandest of stages this autumn, scoring for Serbia at the World Cup in their defeat to Granit Xhaka’s Switzerland.
The 22-year-old has been gifted plenty of praise over the last 18 months but perhaps the best acclaim is from the Serbian FA president who said: “Vlahovic is better and more complete than Haaland.”
Such a claim is bold, particularly when you consider that the Norwegian sensation has 23 goals in 18 matches this season. However, it is a testament to his true abilities with the young Juve forward a gifted attacker capable of scoring all sorts of goals.
He can run in behind with pace courtesy of his lengthy strides while his 6 foot 3 frame means he is no pushover from a physical point of view, scoring four of his goals last term with his head.
Such an imposing presence up top could work wonders alongside the aforementioned Mudryk. Possessing lightning-quick pace, the 21-year-old could well flourish next to Vlahovic with the Shakhtar star possessing the tools to dart down the left-hand side and act as the main supply line for the Serbian.
Indeed, Mudryk has contributed eight assists in 18 fixtures throughout 2022/23 while ranking in the top 2% of wingers in Europe’s top leagues for assists and the best 6% for dribbles completed per 90 minutes as a marker of his creativity and ability to produce something out of nothing.
Such qualities would dazzle Premier League defences and in the process, help to forge a remarkable partnership next to Vlahovic.
Whether that will become a reality only time will tell, but Arsenal supporters can certainly dream.