Paul Merson has urged Arsenal to sign Dušan Vlahović from Fiorentina and claimed that he is a ‘handful’, as he told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (22/01/22 at 1:05 pm).
The former double winner made a comparison with Manchester United great, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and claimed that Arsenal need to ‘get in someone like that’.
There is a lot of talk that Mikel Arteta wants to bring Vlahović to north London, with Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web claiming that Arsenal have made an offer of a tad under £60 million for the player.
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe may well be the young hot prospects in world football right now that everyone raves about.
But some respect and limelight needs to be put on a young Serbian bulldozing his way through Serie A teams.
Merson thinks Vlahović is the man for them, as he explained why they have issues upfront.
“I mean that’s the problem (Arsenal’s lack of goals),” said Merson. “I would have gone for him.
“The figures he is putting up in Italy. He is a handful and a centre-forward who scores goals.
“Arsenal create chances. They just need someone who is just going to be worried about scoring goals. Like the great van Nistelrooy was.
“Van Nistelrooy would come short, put it out wide, forget me then I am getting in the box and scoring goals. You have to get in someone like that.”
It could be argued that Arsenal need more than just one centre-forward from the transfer market.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s days at the club seem to be numbered, whilst Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette are out-of-contract in the summer.
There could be a realistic scenario that all three are out of the door by the summer, which would leave Arteta in a difficult situation.
Therefore, it would be ideal for the club to bring in someone this month, not only to ease the worries regarding who will lead the line for them in the long term.
But also, that extra spark and push they will need in their quest to finish in the top four.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
