The Arsenal team, a Premier League powerhouse, has had an inconsistent performance this season, particularly lacking creativity in their offensive play. After Saka's injury, Jesus, who had just entered his prime form, suffered a severe cruciate ligament injury. Consequently, Arsenal must introduce a forward if they wish to maintain their competitiveness in the second half of the season.
According to the famous football media outlet "Goal," Arsenal has made an offer to Juventus, hoping to lease Serbian striker Vlahovic for half a season during the winter window. However, the lease contract does not include a buyout clause. Juventus prefers a one-time buyout, with a psychological price of around 55 million euros.
Vlahovic, 25, transferred from Fiorentina to Juventus in the 2022 winter window for 83 million euros. Due to his high scoring rate at Fiorentina, he was called the "new Toni," and his highest value reached 85 million euros.
Since joining Juventus, Vlahovic has been the main center forward, having played for Juventus for a total of 3 years, making 124 appearances, scoring 53 goals, and assisting 11 times.
Vlahovic is a tall center forward at 1.90 meters, with very comprehensive personal abilities. He excels in headers, interceptions, dribbling, back-to-goal play, and shooting. He can act as a pivot within the penalty area and also participate in organizing attacks outside the area.
As Juventus' largest transfer investment in recent years, the team has high hopes for Vlahovic. However, his performance has been lukewarm; although his scoring rate is stable, he has not taken on the role of a core player. Additionally, Vlahovic frequently suffers minor injuries, resulting in a less than ideal attendance rate. His current value remains at 60 million euros.
Furthermore, Vlahovic's post-tax annual salary reaches 12 million euros, which is unparalleled in Serie A. His contract with Juventus expires in the summer of 2026, and Juventus has proposed a renewal plan. Considering Vlahovic's current state and age, they hope he will accept a pay cut. However, Vlahovic remains unmoved and has not accepted Juventus' renewal terms.
With only one and a half years left on his contract, the only way to stop losses if the renewal fails is to sell him. Despite Vlahovic being Juventus' top scorer this season, he has entered the transfer market due to his lack of renewal, and he can leave if the offer is suitable.
Arsenal's center forward issue has long troubled Arteta. Jesus is too soft, and Havertz is still a midfielder playing out of position. To resolve their offensive problems, they must sign a top-class center forward. Arteta has long admired Vlahovic and believes that his comprehensive technical ability can elevate the team's offense to a new level.
However, Vlahovic's form this season has not been outstanding, with 12 goals and 2 assists in 23 appearances across all competitions, but 5 of those goals were penalties, so his efficiency is not particularly remarkable.
This is the fundamental reason why Arsenal's offer is merely a half-season lease. Essentially, they want to try him out for half a season; if Vlahovic meets Arsenal's tactical requirements and performs well, they will buy him out in the summer.
However, Juventus will not accept this proposal, as the 25-year-old Vlahovic is still quite sought after in the transfer market. Teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham are potential suitors for Vlahovic. Especially Barcelona views Vlahovic as Lewandowski's replacement, and Manchester United plans to exchange Vlahovic for Zirkzee plus a transfer fee.
Moreover, regardless of which top club Vlahovic joins, it is unlikely that he will receive a post-tax annual salary of 12 million euros again. Even in the wealthy Premier League, only top-level stars like Haaland, De Bruyne, and Salah can earn a weekly salary of 400,000 pounds.
Therefore, Vlahovic has yet to make a clear decision about his transfer. If he waits until his contract with Juventus ends and leaves as a free transfer, he could still receive a signing fee, which is also a good option.
Will Arsenal be able to successfully sign Vlahovic?