Arsenal’s hunt for a brand new striker has led them to Aston Villa star man Ollie Watkins, with Mikel Arteta’s facet having a £60m bid rejected earlier this week.
The Englishman has been a relentless supply of objectives for Unai Emery’s facet in 2024/25, registering 11 goals and ten assists in 32 matches throughout all competitions.
Nevertheless, while he can be a very good addition for the Gunners, it’s an enormous payment to be paying for a 29-year-old who can be getting into the ultimate years of his skilled profession within the coming seasons.
Because of this, Arteta’s males may return with an improved supply for the England worldwide earlier than the top of the window, however they could want to focus on different choices on the prime finish of the pitch.
Quite a few gamers have already been touted with a transfer to the Emirates this month, with the hierarchy trying to resurrect earlier curiosity in a single talisman earlier than Monday’s deadline.
Arsenal concerned with touchdown European talisman
In line with CaughtOffside, Arsenal are interested in making a late move for Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović to attempt to hand Arteta the ammunition he’s desired this month.
The 24-year-old has impressed for the Italian giants as soon as once more all through 2024/25, registering 12 goals across all competitions, together with 4 within the Champions League.
The report claims that RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko is Arteta’s predominant goal after having a bid rejected for Watkins, however that Juve are open to permitting the Serbian to depart after touchdown Randal Kolo Muani from PSG earlier within the window.
It’s not the primary time that the Gunners have pursued a transfer for Vlahovic on this window, with the previous Fiorentina ace previously on their shortlist a few weeks in the past.
Nevertheless, ought to they make a transfer to land the striker who earns £315k-per-week, as per Capology, it will enable one present first-team member to star upon his return to motion from harm.
Why Vlahovic can be excellent for Bukayo Saka
Academy graduate Bukayo Saka has developed into a number one star in European soccer lately, highlighting how essential the membership’s academy setup is to their first-team success.
The 23-year-old has now made over 250 appearances since his debut again in 2018, scoring on 67 events – cementing his place within the right-wing place, with Arteta taking part in an enormous function in his improvement.
The England worldwide was in stellar kind in the course of the opening months of the continuing Premier League, scoring five but registering ten assists, nonetheless sitting second within the help tally all through the entire division, with solely Mohamed Salah posting extra.
|
High assisters within the Premier League 2024/25 |
|
|---|---|
|
Participant |
Tally |
|
1. Mohamed Salah |
13 |
|
2. Bukayo Saka |
10 |
|
3. Antonee Robinson |
9 |
|
4. Mikkel Damsgaard |
8 |
|
= Jacob Murphy |
8 |
|
5. Trent Alexander-Arnold |
6 |
|
= Cole Palmer |
6 |
|
Stats through FotMob |
|
Nevertheless, he’s been lacking because the center of December after choosing up a hamstring harm within the victory over Crystal Palace, with Saka nonetheless but to return to motion.
When he does, he could possibly be aided in his efforts throughout the remaining third ought to Vlahovic transfer to the Emirates, with the Serbian worldwide permitting the teenager to take his sport to the subsequent stage.
The Juve striker, who’s been described as “world-class” by one analyst, has averaged 1.8 aerials won, offering that focus that Saka has been craving given his tally of three probabilities created per 90 together with 2.2 successful crosses.
Vlahovic has additionally averaged 1.4 shots on target per 90 in Serie A this marketing campaign, doubtlessly thriving alongside the Englishman in assault, with his tally of 0.7 assists per 90 aiding the striker, while doubtlessly bettering his personal tally.
It’s unclear how a lot a late transfer for the frontman would value the Gunners’ hierarchy within the coming days, however the prospect of him linking up with Saka within the remaining third is definitely a daunting one – permitting the pair to kind a lethal partnership.
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Arsenal may land their very own Mathys Tle in a late transfer for an attacking expertise.
Given the membership’s 20-year watch for a league title, the striker is arguably the ultimate piece in Arteta’s Arsenal puzzle, massively rising their possibilities of ending the generational watch for a top-division triumph.
That might then make Vlahovic the proper various to Watkins, as deadline day looms…
