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Topics: Football, Arsenal, Dusan Vlahovic, Fiorentina, Transfers, Premier League, Serie A
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Football, Arsenal, Dusan Vlahovic, Fiorentina, Transfers, Premier League, Serie A
Arsenal are ready to pay Dusan Vlahovic staggering wages of more than £300,000 per week if they manage to sign the striker from Fiorentina, according to reports in Italy.
Vlahovic has attracted interest from around Europe after scoring 49 goals in 108 games for Fiorentina since joining from Partizan Belgrade in 2018.
Arsenal are keen to sign a striker in January, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future at the club uncertain and Alexandre Lacazette out of contract at the end of the season.
The Gunners have been strongly linked with Vlahovic throughout the window and have now submitted a £58m bid for the 21-year-old, according to reports.
Italian newspaper La Nazione claims Arsenal are prepared to make Vlahovic one of the best-paid players in the Premier League if he moves to the Emirates.
Arsenal’s offer would make Vlahovic the second highest-paid player at the club after Aubameyang, who is thought to earn £250,000 per week plus another £100,000 in loyalty payments and bonuses.
Aubameyang was stripped of the club captaincy earlier this season over a disciplinary issue and the striker has not featured for the first-team since early December.
He was recently away on international duty with Gabon at the Africa Cup of Nations but returned to Arsenal this week to undergo further medical tests, after being diagnosed with cardiac lesions following a positive Covid-19 test.
Vlahovic has been identified as an ideal replacement for Aubameyang after scoring 20 goals in 24 games in all competitions this season.
Persuading him to move to Arsenal mid-season is proving difficult, however, with the Serbia international determined to play Champions League football.
Speaking earlier this month, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta kept his cards close to his chest when asked about the club’s interest in Vlahovic.
"Historically this club has always been interested in the best players in the world and the best players have been interested in coming here, I can tell you that situation hasn't changed,” he said.
"That is one of our biggest powers."