Arsenal target Dusan Vlahovic wants to stay in Serie A and would rather join two giants of the Italian league ahead of the London club, according to reports.
The Gunners are in desperate need of a new frontman after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was banished from the team, while Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are both out of contract in the summer and set to leave on free transfers.
Arsenal technical director Edu has made signing a striker his main priority this month, but doing business in the January transfer window is difficult.
Serie A top scorer Vlahovic – who has scored 16 league goals already this campaign in just 20 games – is rumoured to be Arsenal’s top target, with Alexander Isak mooted as another possible option.
Edu is believed to be working hard to try and convince Fiorentina to sell the striker before this month’s deadline, with Arsenal’s board willing to spend more than £70m to get their man.
But football.london have cast doubt on the club’s prospects of signing Vlahovic, with the 21-year-old striker harbouring huge reservations about moving to the Emirates.
Vlahovic would rather stay in Serie A and he has told friends that Juventus or Inter Milan would be his right destination when he does leave Fiorentina.
Juventus have long been linked with the Serb and are in need of firepower themselves, with Alvaro Morata and Moise Kean both on loan and Paulo Dybala enduring another injury-plagued campaign.
A summer move would suit Vlahovic, who does not want to leave Fiorentina this month and wants to see out the rest of the season before deciding his next move.
Spurs have also manoeuvred themselves into a strong position to sign Vlahovic, with managing director of football Fabio Paratici boasting a close relationship with the player’s representatives.
Despite Arsenal’s desire to lure Vlahovic to the club, and their intention to keep pushing for a move until deadline day, right now their chances of signing him from Fiorentina look slim.
