Arsenal’s search for a striker is set to be a huge part of their 2022 recruitment plans.
Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah could conclude their stays with the club when their contracts expire in June.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will have just one year left on his deal after that, further ramping up the pressing need to bring in reinforcements.
It is therefore unsurprising to see Arsenal linked with a number of strikers already, despite the winter window being an unlikely period for the Gunners to make a move for their marquee forward addition.
Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic was reported to have been a main target but despite agreeing to pay the Italian side’s asking price, the player’s representatives have been unresponsive, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
Vlahovic's physicality in combination with his lethal finishing shows the shift in the style of forward Mikel Arteta would like to see at the club.
However, a move for the 21-year-old Serbian is said to be almost impossible due to the player having purportedly struck a secret agreement with another club.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano told The Arsenal Lounge: “The feeling around Fiorentina is that this boy has already an agreement with a top club and they don’t know which club is it. They are still waiting to see what happens.
“Arsenal had a contact with Fiorentina to ask them ‘how much you want to sell the player in January?’
“Fiorentina told them ‘We want 70million' so there was a conversation between the player and Fiorentina but, from player’s side, nothing going on because he has no interest at the moment.”
It appears then that any hope Arsenal technical director Edu had of signing the player is close to zero.
Therefore, they will need to move on to other targets in order to find their future long-term striking option.
From the perspective of Arsenal supporters, the goals department remains a key concern. Arteta has been able to improve the defensive capabilities of the side through both tactical coaching and recruitment.
However, even with one of Europe’s best known and highest goalscorers, the chances are simply not being created.
The worry is that even if the Gunners are able to sign a world-class striker, will the chances be created for them to score the goals the club so desperately needs?
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