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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Arsenal transfer target Dusan Vlahovic's brutal response to being offered to Gunners

Dusan Vlahovic has no interest in joining Arsenal, Tottenham or Newcastle in January.

The Fiorentina striker, 21, is thought to have his heart set on a move to Juventus and is not listening to Premier League offers.

The Italian giants are believed to have agreed personal terms with Vlahovic and a €75million deal - around £62.8m - with Fiorentina.

Vlahovic's current employers have received numerous offers for their prized asset and are open to selling him this month.

Arsenal were the English club most strongly linked with the Serb and are thought to have offered €65m - around £54.5m - for his services.

Have Your Say! Which club should Dusan Vlahovic join in January? Let us know here.

Dusan Vlahovic is closing in on a move to Juventus (NurPhoto/PA Images)

Arsenal transfer news LIVE! Isak, Calvert-Lewin emerge as Vlahovic alternatives; £56m deal 'reached'

Rumours suggest Newcastle were willing to spent up to €90m - around £75.5m - on Vlahovic.

But, according to Football Italia, the striker's agent Darko Ristic didn't even listen to offers from the Premier League due to his dream of playing for Juventus.

The Old Lady, who have won a record 36 Serie A titles, are currently fifth in the table - 11 points behind leaders and champions Inter Milan.

"The market ends on the 31st, how can I say it’s over?" said Fiorentina's sporting director Daniele Parade when asked about Vlahovic's future, as quoted by Football Italia.

"We are ready for any eventuality. We have an important scouting sector and we are managed very well by Joe Barone. We’re happy with the programme of our work."

Parade went on to say: "We received some important offers for him [Vlahovic]. Offers that were very substantial, but we never got any feedback from his agents.

"On our side there has always been great transparency. I refer to what Barone said yesterday, all our doors are open.

"I say this because we want to understand what he wants and what the agents want. We’re also open to sitting down again for the renewal.

"We have offers to sell him in a strong way. I’m saying this because a club that makes €75million (around £63m) a year and has a valuable asset cannot afford to lose him for free.

"We have to understand what he wants. We are open to everything. I don’t leave room for other interpretations... but the agents have to tell us their intentions."

On the offers Fiorentina have received, Parade added: "They were all valid and satisfactory offers, with payment methods that suited us.

"We couldn’t go ahead with the deal because there was never any contact with the player’s agents... it's an important valuation, over €70m.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could lose three strikers in the next six months (Action Images via Reuters)

"With no exchange deal and no way of paying in so many years. The president has imposed it on us."

Vlahovic's rumoured transfer preference is a huge blow to the Gunners, who were reportedly hoping to sign the talent in January.

Arsenal are after a new striker, with uncertainty surrounding the futures of Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Eddie Nketiah.

Lacazette and Nketiah are both out of contract at the end of the season, while Aubameyang hasn't played since losing the captaincy in December.

Writing in the Daily Star earlier this month, Arsenal legend Paul Merson urged his former employers to sign Vlahovic.

"They should be breaking the bank to get Dusan Vlahovic in from Fiorentina in the summer - because he would make them title contenders," claimed Merson.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are still to decide their futures (Pool via REUTERS)

"I've heard he's not interested in Arsenal right now and I can understand that. But he might change his mind if they finish in the top four and offer him a lorryload of money.

"Arsenal would be able to play him every week because Aubameyang will be gone. Alexandre Lacazette will probably be gone. And so will Eddie Nketiah.

"They will need a goalscorer, and Vlahovic scores goals. He's also still young so he should get better and you't not wasting money paying a 29-year-old on the way down.

"I think there are good things happening at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta has got them playing well.

"But they need a proven striker next season... they'll have a chance to make it a four-horse [title] race at least."

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