Fiorentina director Daniele Prade says Premier League giants Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur will have to pay over £70 million to sign Serie A hotshot Dusan Vlahovic, speaking to Sport Italia.
As a centre-forward, Alexandre Lacazette ticks so many boxes.
He’s a brilliant link-man, presses ferociously from the front and offers a far more physical presence in the final third than the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Eddie Nketiah.
Unfortunately, however, a tally of three goals in 16 Premier League games tells it’s own story.
If Lacazette had brought his shooting boots to the party on Sunday, Arsenal would be sitting pretty in the Champions League places right now.
Instead, the most frustrating of goalless draws at home to Burnley leaves Mikel Arteta’s side in sixth, grappling onto Manchester United’s coattails.
It’s no coincidence that, since the final whistle rang around the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Arsenal appear to have stepped up their pursuit of a new number nine (The Athletic).
Luring Vlahovic to London Colney, however, will be easier said than done.
And not just because Arsenal are going head-to-head with the likes of Juventus and North London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur.
According to Football London, Spurs director Fabio Paratici has identified Vlahovic as his ‘ideal’ signing.
Will Arsenal miss out on Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic?
“Sufficient proposals? They were all valid and satisfactory proposals, with payment methods that suited us,” says Prade, translated by Tuttomercatoweb.
“What is the valuation? £70 million? It is an important valuation – over 70 million.”
Such a fee would see Vlahovic replace Tanguy Ndombele as the most expensive signing in Tottenham’s history.
It is likely, too, that Arsenal would have to part with a sum in excess of the £72 million they paid to sign Nicolas Pepe from Lille in 2019.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, Vlahovic does not seem as keen on them as they are on him.
Reports emerging before Christmas claim that the Serbia international had doubts about joining a Gunners side who haven’t graced the Champions League stage since the 2016/17 season.
“I don’t think there is only Juventus who want him,” says former Juve great Jose Altafini.
“Because Vlahovic could go to any important European team. He can also go to Real Madrid. He can play in teams fighting (to win) the Champions League.
“For me, he is better than (Erling Braut) Haaland. He is more technical.”
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