Could Juventus transfer open the door for Dusan Vlahovic to Arsenal?

The impending transfer of Randal Kolo Muani to Juventus could open the door for Dusan Vlahovic to leave Turin this month. Will striker-needy Arsenal make a move?

It looks like Juve will beat out stiff competition to secure the loan signing of PSG's Kolo Muani, with guarantees of Champions League football leaving interested Tottenham short. Isn't that a shame?

Reports emerged at the end of December that Arsenal had been offered the chance to sign the versatile French forward, with agents capitalising on Bukayo Saka's hamstring tear, but the Gunners seemingly never entertained the move.

“We know who we want to sign. We have very clear ideas of the players that we want, yes," Mikel Arteta asserted ahead of Wednesday's North London Derby. Kolo Muani didn't fit the bill, but his Juventus arrival could offer the Gunners leverage if they opt to dip their toe into a familiar market this month.

Could Juventus transfer open the door for Dusan Vlahovic to Arsenal?

We all remember when Arsenal locked horns with the Italian giants for the services of Fiorentina's hitman forward three years ago. We also know how that tale ended. Vlahovic became the latest calcio star to swap Florence for Turin, with an increase in prestige and notoriety inevitable having made the big leap.

However, Vlahovic has not been the level raiser Juventini projected him to be. The 24-year-old has scored 53 times in 124 appearances for Juve, with the Bianconeri struggling to compete with the likes of Napoli and Inter at Serie A's summit since his arrival. It's been a turbulent period in Juventus' modern history, and Thiago Motta's appointment was an indication of the club's recognition to rebuild. Vlahovic is Juve's top scorer this season, scoring 12 times in all competitions, but questions have been raised as to whether Motta wants to build his team around a forward who's far from the Italian's utopian striker profile.

While a powerful forward with stellar instincts in the box, Vlahovic has not yet evolved into a refined hold-up player. Motta wants a facilitator, but the Serb is a throwback. Goals. Goals. Goals.

The pair haven't seen eye-to-eye, and some might see their move for Kolo Muani as a sign of Vlahovic's imminent departure. However, Juventus don't have a recognised backup for the Serbian international with Arkadiusz Milik out of action. They're signing the Frenchman to offer Vlahovic respite, not to replace him.

Whether Vlahovic stays beyond the summer is another matter entirely, but Juventus don't have much to gain by facilitating the 24-year-old's departure this month unless there's a complete breakdown in relations between player and coach. There's been talk of a potential loan to Arsenal, and the bullish Serb would be a handy short-term fix. However, the reputable David Ornstein (via Daily AFC) believes that a deal for Vlahovic in January is "unlikely".

With Gabriel Jesus out for the long haul and Arsenal's recent profligacy amplifying cries for winter activity, Ornstein's crossing off of potential candidates will cause some angst. Benjamin Sesko's another who's unlikely to move this month. However, we've got to believe that the club will work to offer Arteta the optimal conditions to succeed during the second half of the season by overseeing the arrivals of at least one frontline attacker.

Anything but must be considered gross negligence.

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