Report: Arsenal now prefer 'fantastic' £60m star to Isak if Vlahovic bid fails

By Jordan Harris

Arsenal plan to prioritise a move for Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer should they fail in their bid to sign Dusan Vlahovic, according to a report from the Daily Star.

The Gunners’ need for a new goalscorer has been exposed this month. They have failed to score in their last four games in all competitions. And no striker in the squad has scored more than four in the Premier League so far.

Of course, the player they are desperate to sign is Vlahovic. Previous reports have stated that the Gunners are prepared to pay over £70 million for the Fiorentina star.

However, it appears that the Serbian may be heading elsewhere. The Daily Star reports that Juventus believe that he wants to join them.

And with that, Arsenal are considering alternative options. It was suggested on Monday that they were exploring a potential move for Alexander Isak.

The Swede reportedly has a release clause of £58 million. But Arsenal hoped to do a deal for less than that amount.

However, it appears that another name may be above Isak on the wishlist. The Daily Star has suggested that Calvert-Lewin would be at the top of the Arsenal list. They have been tracking him for years and believe that he will get better.

A move is only likely to take place in the summer. But the Gunners rate Calvert-Lewin higher than Isak.

Previous reports have suggested that the England international is valued at around £60 million.

Arsenal face major problem if they plan Calvert-Lewin bid this summer

Obviously, Arsenal will expect to have little joy should they approach Everton about Calvert-Lewin this month. He is their talisman. Carlo Ancelotti previously labelled him ‘fantastic‘. And the Toffees are not out of danger in the Premier League.

But clearly, a move in the summer provides one major issue for the Gunners. Arsenal must contest the second-half of the season without a new striker coming in.

That could mean that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah largely shoulder the responsibility for the rest of the campaign.

Aubameyang has been out of the fold for a little while. And he yet could leave. Meanwhile, neither Lacazette or Nketiah have been prolific.

So it would be a huge gamble not to sign striker before the summer.