Aston Villa have reportedly joined Arsenal in the race to sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, whose contract talks with the Bianconeri have apparently hit a standstill.
Three years on from being heavily linked with a move to North London in the January 2022 transfer window, the Vlahovic to Arsenal rumours inevitably re-emerged during the last winter market.
Arsenal were even said to have seen a loan approach for the Serbia international rebuffed and ultimately failed to get a deal for a new striker over the line, a gamble that could not have backfired more spectacularly.
Following injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli - the former of whom is out for the rest of the season - an Arsenal side also deprived of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus have fallen 13 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League table.
Now needing nothing less than a minor miracle to win the top-flight title, the Gunners' best chance of bringing silverware back to North London now lies in the Champions League, as they prepare to take on PSV Eindhoven in Tuesday's last-16 first leg.
Vlahovic 'increasingly likely' to leave Juventus
© Imago
After putting their striker plans on ice for a couple of windows, a new number nine should be Arsenal's priority this summer, and Vlahovic's name is likely to be touted once more.
According to TEAMtalk, the former Fiorentina man is now looking 'increasingly likely' to leave Juventus in the upcoming window, as talks to extend his contract beyond the end of next season have apparently hit a brick wall.
Vlahovic has struggled for starts since the January loan signing of Paris Saint-Germain's Randal Kolo Muani, who has made a brilliant start to life in Turin with five goals and two assists in eight games, although the Serbian did play the full 90 and score the winner in a 1-0 success over Cagliari on February 23.
However, Juve are supposedly demanding he take a pay cut on his weekly £215,000 salary to sign a new deal, which he has not shown a willingness to do, and Aston Villa are also now looking to take advantage of the situation.
The Lions sanctioned Jhon Duran's sale to Al-Nassr for a £65m fee in January and could now reinvest some of that money into Vlahovic, whom Juventus are supposedly prepared to let go for around £50m.
While Villa are apparently yet to make a formal offer, the report states that they have a 'concrete interest' in Vlahovic, whose agents have been hard at work offering to various clubs.
Newcastle United, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and Marseille have allegedly all been presented with the chance to sign the 25-year-old, but none of them have been receptive to the approaches of his camp.
Could Vlahovic to Villa open the door for Ollie Watkins to Arsenal?
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Vlahovic joining Villa would naturally raise the question of Arsenal potentially trying again for current Lions striker Ollie Watkins, whom they are said to have failed with a bid for during the last knockings of the January window.
Unai Emery was always reluctant to start Watkins and Duran up front together and is unlikely to change his style should Vlahovic arrive, but the intention would be for the Serbian and Watkins to fight it out for the striker's spot.
As a result, Arsenal are unlikely to reignite their interest in the Englishman and could instead prioritise younger options such as RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Newcastle United's Alexander Isak.
Ben Knapton
