Mikel Arteta has rejected claims Dusan Vlahovic is not a realistic target for Arsenal amid claims the Fiorentina star is reluctant to join the club.
The Gunners have made signing a new striker this month their major priority after banishing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the team, while Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are both out of contract in the summer.
Serie A top scorer Vlahovic – who has netted 16 goals in the league this campaign – has emerged as their key target, though Arsenal may need to pay more than £70m to land the Serb.
There have also been claims that the 21-year-old’s preference is to remain in Italy and he would rather join Juventus or Inter over the Gunners, while some reports said his agent was refusing to answer Arsenal’s calls.
But Arteta says the best players in the world still want to move to the club and says the lure of joining a club of Arsenal’s standing remains a big attraction when trying to sign players of Vlahovic’s calibre.
Asked if a player like Vlahovic is a realistic target, Arteta replied: ‘I don’t know. Historically this club has always been targeting the best players in the world and the best players in the world were always interested in coming here.
‘And I can say that that situation hasn’t changed. So every time I have spoken to any player they were so willing to come.
‘I haven’t faced any other situation and that’s one of our biggest powers, and our capacity to get the attention of people to come and join our club is something that is a big advantage for us.’
Arteta refused to answer a direct question about the club’s interest in Vlahovic but did say that they are continuing to work hard behind the scenes to explore opportunities to improve the team this month.
Asked about the Fiorentina forward, he replied: ‘I’m really sorry to disappoint you but you know I am not going to be discussing any transfer rumours. I’ve never done it and obviously we cannot do it.’
On whether he is hopeful of adding new players, Arteta continued: ‘What I really want this month is that we have as many players as possible fit and healthy and we do the best and maximum that we can with those players.
‘And after that we have a strategy of how we want to evolve and improve the team and whenever that is possible we are going to try to do it. But we all know that this market is extremely difficult.’
