Arsenal must stump up £150m for Vlahovic
ARSENAL have been told they must splash out £58million if they want to complete a move for their main January target Dusan Vlahovic. The Fiorentina forward would then command £300,000 a week in wages, adding up to a staggering commitment of £150m over the course of his contract. Nevertheless, the Gunners have not been put off and they are working to seal a deal for a 21-year-old recognised as one of the best emerging talents in Europe. Manager Mikel Arteta also has an interest in Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but the chances of luring the England striker appear remote this month. Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham have also enquired about Vlahovic. Interested clubs have been told they would have to pay £15m to the player’s representatives, which has been a sticking point for many across Europe. Vlahovic is also determined to play top-level European football, which Arsenal and Spurs cannot offer this season. But if Vlahovic can be convinced of the project Arteta is building, then the Gunners have a chance of landing the forward, who has scored 23 goals in 28 appearances for Fiorentina and Serbia this season. Juventus are also keen on him and with Italy star Federico Chiesa yesterday ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, that interest could become more urgent. But Fiorentina are reluctant to sell to Juve to avoid a backlash from fans who were annoyed after Chiesa and Federico Bernardeschi were sold to the Turin club in recent seasons. Arsenal acknowledge that the deal to sign Vlahovic is expensive, but also know that if they are prepared to pay a premium they stand a good chance of signing him. Arteta is determined to add to his squad this month, a feeling that was strengthened on Sunday after his side crashed out of the FA Cup against Championship club Nottingham Forest. He also wants a midfielder to replace Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has joined Roma on loan. Meanwhile, Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, 20, has agreed a loan move to Middlesbrough, and will join the Championship club this week when his Covid isolation ends.