Isak race hots up with Vlahovic ‘not a target’ for Arsenal manager Arteta

Arsenal will be hoping the upcoming January transfer window is as successful as their summer one, with Mikel Arteta’s Gunners making signing a new striker their top priority

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Mikel Arteta defends Arsenal players after Claudio Ranieri accusation

The summer transfer window increasingly looks to have been a masterclass from Arsenal, who boosted their squad with the signings of five players.

After a challenging and winless start to the season, the Gunners have gone unbeaten since the first international break to rise to fifth in the Premier League table.

But more work still needs to be done to revamp a squad that has underperformed in recent seasons, with weaknesses in key areas of the pitch.

One of those weak areas is at striker, with Alexandre Lacazette edging towards leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Here, Mirror Football rounds up the latest Arsenal transfer news…

Who should be Arsenal’s top target in the January transfer window? Comment below.

Arsenal not making Vlahovic move

One player who was thought to be being considered by Arsenal as a possible replacement for Lacazette was Dusan Vlahovic.

The 21-year-old has starred for Fiorentina since joining the Serie A side from Partizan Belgrade in 2018.

He scored 21 goals in the Italian top-flight last season and has started the new campaign in similar form, hitting eight goals in just 10 league games.

That scoring pedigree saw him linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, but according to Goal, Vlahovic is not being considered as a target.

It is stated that there have been no negotiations between the Gunners, Fiorentina or Vlahovic’s representatives.

While the report makes clear that signing a striker will be one of Arsenal’s priorities, the Serbian will not be arriving in North London as it stands.

Bachmann opens door to Watford exit

Arsenal target Daniel Bachmann has hinted that he could leave current club Watford after falling out of favour under new manager Claudio Ranieri.

Bachmann started the campaign as the Hornets’ number one, but was dropped in favour of Ben Foster in September.

The Austrian has previously been linked with a move to the Gunners as they look for a new back-up to Aaron Ramsdale with Bernd Leno set to depart.

And he has now opened the door to a departure from Vicarage Road, with Arsenal one of his potential destinations.

“It’s a frustrating situation. As a player, it’s always difficult when you’re not playing. If it’s for non-sporting reasons, it makes it even harder. It’s twice as frustrating,” Bachmann told Kicker.

“The transfer window will be open again in January. If no solution has been found by then, you have to see I can go back to work. You will see that in the next six to eight weeks,” Bachmann adds.

Liverpool enter Isak race

With Arsenal in need of reinforcements at striker, one star who became a target following last season was Alexander Isak.

The Swede has been a consistent goalscorer for Real Sociedad since moving to the La Liga side from Borussia Dortmund.

The Gunners were linked with a move over the summer, before he signed a new long-term contract with Sociedad, and they could revive their interest in the 22-year-old.

But according to El Nacional, Arsenal could face competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool, who are also looking to boost their attacking options.

The report states that Isak ‘fits like a glove’ into Jurgen Klopp’s system, with the Reds said to be weighing up a move.

It is claimed that they could offer as much as £40m for the striker, which could force Arsenal into a transfer battle.