Key reason Arsenal could fail to land key target plus Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang latest

January's most tantalising transfer saga has taken a fresh twist.
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Arsenal's pursuit of Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic looks like it could go down to the wire, and they're not the only club looking to land the lethal striker.

According to fresh reports from Italy, Serie A giants Juventus have now thrown their hat into the ring, and could tempt their divisional rivals into selling with an attractive offer that's a little different from the one said to have been proposed by the Gunners.

What's the story?

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According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juve will look to offer Fiorentina just £25m in cash, but will sweeten the deal with the addition of their versatile attacking midfielder Dejan Kulusevski - who they value at £25m.

While not a striker, and therefore not a replacement for Vlahovic, the Sweden international could certainly be of interest to Fiorentina, as they look to continue their strong start to the campaign and secure European football for next season.

Crucially, a player in exchange is something that Arsenal are yet to offer, and could give Juventus a real advantage in negotiations.

Meanwhile, The Sun have picked up on reports from Italian outlet OK Calcio Mercato, who claim the Gunners have had a bid in the region of £66m accepted.

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However, there remain doubts over whether Vlahovic would be interested in a move to Arsenal, with La Gazzetta dello Sport - arguably a more credible source - suggesting the player is unconvinced by the Gunners’ capability to win trophies in the near future.

It is also suggested that Vlahovic's agent is set to meet with Juventus' sporting director to discuss a move to Turin.

Why is Vlahovic in such high demand?

The 21-year-old netted 21 league goals in a real breakthrough season at Fiorentina in 2020/21, and has got the current campaign off to an absolute flyer.

Netting 20 goals in 23 games across all competitions, Vlahovic has become one of Europe's most in-demand young strikers, tearing apart the Italian top tier with a seemingly insatiable appetite for goals.

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Standing tall at 6ft 3, the Serbian striker defies the stereotype of the gangling target man, and is renowned for his dynamic attacking play and clinical finishing, as well as possession the exceptional vision required for effective link-up play.

Young, technically gifted and brimming with attacking vigour - who wouldn't want Vlahovic leading their line?

What are Arsenal's chances of the player?

Arsenal have clearly made him their number one target, and look to be hell-bent on bringing him to the Emirates Stadium this month in order to boost their chances of securing a top four finish, and the all important return to Champions League football.

On top of that, they're likely to need a replacement for £55m man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose future at the club looks increasingly uncertain.

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The Gunners haven't been afraid to spend money this season, having already splashed out over £150m to bring in the likes of Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale and Nuno Tavares, and could be tempted to get one final big deal over the line this month.

The allure of joining Juventus, however, cannot be underestimated, and Vlahovic could find an offer to join the Serie A serial winners too tempting to refuse - should they make a concrete offer.

What's happening to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?

The Gabonese striker's form has fallen off a cliff, and after losing the captain's armband for a disciplinary breach last month, he could well leave the Gunners this month.

Fresh reports from the Daily Mail have suggested that Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal are gearing up a tempting loan offer for the ex-Borussia Dortmund star. The deal would, according to the report, see Al Hilal cover all of his whopping £350k-per-week salary, as well as having the option to make the deal permanent for a £8m fee in the summer.

While fellow Premier League side Newcastle United have been linked with the 32-year-old, the Gunners could well be tempted by what would most likely be a more lucrative offer from the Saudi giants.

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