Sun Feb 02 17:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Arsenal Eye Vlahovic as Watkins Pursuit Fails
**London, England** – Arsenal are considering a late bid for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic as their pursuit of Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins appears to have stalled. The Gunners had a £40 million offer for Watkins rejected earlier this week, with Villa manager Unai Emery confirming the striker is not seeking a move. This rejection, coupled with Villa’s impending sale of Jhon Duran, leaves Arsenal scrambling for attacking reinforcements before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Vlahovic, 25, is reportedly among Arsenal’s top targets to fill the void left by the injured Gabriel Jesus. While a final decision on a bid hasn’t been made, sources suggest Arsenal are weighing their options this weekend. The Serbian international, who has scored seven goals in 18 Serie A appearances this season, is open to a Premier League move, but a deal wouldn’t be simple. Juventus would need to secure a replacement striker first, a task complicated by their recent signing of Randal Kolo Muani, who their manager isn’t fully convinced will be sufficient.
Other striker options for Arsenal include RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko (unlikely this window), and Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui, who is attracting interest from several clubs. Reports also suggest Arsenal may renew their interest in Watkins in the summer. The club’s priority remains securing a new striker before the deadline to bolster their attacking options for the remainder of the season.
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