Arteta can have last laugh as star Arsenal bid £88m for could come cheap

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta can have the last laugh as Dusan Vlahovic could now be available in a cut-price deal. The Gunners were previously claimed to have bid £88million for the striker whose value appears to be decreasing.

Arsenal attempted to sign Vlahovic in the 2022 January transfer window. He had been prolific for the previous year and a half at Fiorentina, scoring 41 goals in his last 64 appearances.

However, the Gunners weren’t as attractive a club to join as they are now. Arteta’s side had finished eighth the season before and were out of European competition altogether.

Juventus were also interested in Vlahovic and were his preferred destination. Arsenal laid their cards on the table, with Italian outlet Ok Calcio Mercato claiming they saw an £88m bid accepted by Fiorentina.

But Juve won the race late in the window, sealing a deal at a cheaper price of around £66m including add-ons. Arsenal had been left red-faced after they were snubbed by the Serbia international.

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However, it hasn’t gone quite to plan since for Vlahovic. He has scored 25 goals in 66 appearances in all competitions for Juve.

It is a record that shouldn’t be sniffed at but the expectations were that he’d be more prolific than he has been. Vlahovic has suffered from groin issues throughout much of his time in Turin.

It restricted him to just 22 Serie A starts in his first full campaign at the club. He has already been linked with a move away, especially in the recent summer window.

Juve were keen on signing Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea and were open to sending Vlahovic to Stamford Bridge as part of the deal. Calcio Mercato reports Juve wanted around £34m plus Lukaku for Vlahovic.

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However, that was clearly a deal Chelsea did not see as worthwhile. But Juve know they face further outlay if Vlahovic hangs around for much longer.

The same report claims that the 23-year-old’s contract will automatically rise to £10m net per season from next year. With that in mind, Juve chiefs planned for his sale and wanted to make a profit on the £66m they paid for him.

However, it is looking increasingly unlikely that will be the case. He will have just two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract come January.

Interested clubs could be put off by his increased wages and therefore not be prepared to pay what Juve are asking. Arsenal may have been embarrassed 20 months ago but Arteta now could well have the last laugh.

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