Arsenal are reportedly considering a move for Juventus winger Dejan Kulusevski in the upcoming January transfer window.
The Gunners have improved significantly in recent months after a woeful first couple of months of the 2021-22 Premier League season and currently sit 4th in the league table, ahead of the likes of West Ham, Manchester United and Tottenham. Despite the upturn in form, Mikel Arteta wants to beef up his squad for a challenging second half of the season.
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Arsenal are eyeing a January swoop for Juventus’ Dejan Kulusevski, who is keen for regular action after making just four starts this season.
Kulusevski, 21, only joined Juventus from Parma last year but he has failed to earn the trust of manager Max Allegri this season, netting just once in 15 appearances. The Sweden international has a contract in Turin until 2025 but wants to enjoy regular game time to ensure he keeps developing and unlocks his true potential.
Arsenal have been linked with Kulusevski of late and they could move for the Juventus attacker if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is sold in January.
Dejan Kulusevski to Arsenal – A good fit for the club?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of captaincy last week after his latest disciplinary breach. The Gabonese international’s future at the Emirates Stadium is looking increasingly bleak after his banishment from Arsenal first-team training. There are high chances the 32-year-old will be offloaded next month.
With Alexandre Lacazette into the final year of his contract and Nicolas Pepe set to leave for the AFCON in January, Mikel Arteta could do well by reinforcing his attacking options. Juventus attacker Dejan Kulusevski has emerged as a potential target for the Gunners, with the 21-year-old enduring a tough season in Serie A so far.
Kulusevski’s versatility to play on either wing, through the middle as a false 9, behind the striker as a no.10 or as a right midfielder should hugely appeal to Arteta. The Sweden international is a clever operator, capable of breaching the tightest of defences with his creative passing, linking play and timing his runs into the box to perfection to finish off chances.
The ex-Parma starlet would certainly be a welcome addition to Arteta’s Arsenal side. He hasn’t been at his best this season, but Kulusevski has shown enough in Serie A to warrant a place in the Gunners squad if they do end up signing him. The competition the Swede would add for places would be invaluable, and his versatility would offer Arteta opportunities to rotate his squad without compromising the quality in the second half of the season.
It remains to be seen how concrete Arsenal’s interest is in Kulusevski but if they can fend off competition from other clubs in January, he would be a top acquisition, especially keeping the future in mind.
