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Arsenal’s hopes of securing the Dusan Vlahovic transfer this month appear to be over with the striker waiting on one key factor before putting pen to paper with the Gunners.

The 21-year-old’s future has already become one of the stories of the January window so far. While he has turned heads with his near goal-a-game form for club and country, attention is also turning to his contract situation.

Vlahovic has 18 months left on his current deal and it remains unclear if he will renew. In October, Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso revealed that the Serbian had rejected a number of extension offers.

And with the January window now open for business, serious interest has emerged from Arsenal. The Gunners are in fact reportedly willing to pay a package worth £150million to sign the striker.

And following extensive talks, reports on Saturday reported that a begrudging Fiorentina have ‘reluctantly accepted his sale’.

Indeed, that report claims the Gunners are willing to meet La Viola’s £58m valuation of the player. The deal will amount to a club-record sale for the Serie A side. Furthermore, the £12.5m fee to take Lucas Torreira to Florence permanently will be kept as a separate deal.

In addition, the Gunners are seemingly also willing to put up a €10m agent’s fee to push the deal through.

Indeed, it just looked a question of the payments breakdown before the high-profile deal is secured.

Dusan Vlahovic transfer ‘not a question of money’

However, experienced journalist Enzo Bucchioni claims any move to Arsenal for Vlahovic in January looks unlikely.

Speaking to Firenze Viola, he claims it’s ‘not a question of money’ for Vlahovic, but in fact ‘winning’. 

Explaining his theory further, he states: “The answer is quite simple, because the offer [from Arsenal] lacks one of the objectives that Dusan asks of his future: to win.

“It’s easy to imagine that he will go to a team that, in addition to giving him money, will also give him the opportunity to conquer sporting goals.”

Furthermore, while a transfer has not been ruled out entirely, any such deal will likely wait until the summer. Vlahovic instead now seemingly wishes to see if Arsenal can at least offer him Champions League football.

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently fifth in the table, two points adrift of West Ham, but boasting a two-game advantage.

Truths behind Vlahovic ‘farewell wave’

Meanwhile, Vlahovic caused something of a stir on Monday night by appearing to wave goodbye to Fiorentina’s fans after their game with Genoa.

Having missed a Panenka penalty, Vlahovic then went up to the fans just before the second half was about to start. Lifting his arms in the air, he was seen waving to them, as it to signal his goodbyes.

Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson was on co-commentary on the match for BT Sport also reckoned the striker was bidding them farewell.

Robson: “Very interesting the way that Vlahovic, as he came back on, waved to all the fans.

“A lot of the players, the Fiorentina players, gave him a hug and said something to him as well.

“Could this be his last half of football for Fiorentina?”

Commentator Paul Dempsey replied to Robson: “Well you’re very well informed normally Stewart.”

However, the Daily Express now claim Vlahovic was merely offering an apology for his earlier miss.

After then scoring his side’s fourth goal in their 6-0 win, he then waved his arms up again to say sorry for a second time.

However, with 20 goals already for the season, Vlahovic has little to say sorry for.

READ MORE: Diego Costa picks next club as Arsenal learn chances of short-term deal

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