Mikael Silvestre is of the belief that Arsenal need to qualify for the Champions League if they are going to attract Dusan Vlahovic.
The Gunners are in the market for new players this month. Mikel Arteta is insistent that they must “maximise every transfer window”:
“I think with the amount of things and the way that we want to evolve the squad, we have to maximise every window in many different ways and we are alert.
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“[Technical director] Edu and his team are working very hard because we know exactly what we need to do, and whether we can accomplish that in January or in the summer, is a different question as it is related to other stuff.”
Vlahovic is being targeted by Arsenal. He has been in superb form for Fiorentina this season as he has scored 17 goals in Serie A.
Arteta’s side are currently pushing for a Champions League place. They sit fifth in the Premier League, but they will move above West Ham if they make the most of their games in hand.
Silvestre has claimed that Arsenal must finish in the top four to attract players of Vlahovic’s calibre:
“[Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang is out and with [Alexandre] Lacazette out of contract Arsenal need to look at forward options,” Silvestre said (as quoted by The Mirror).
“Vlahovic has been in tremendous form for Fiorentina, so he’s a valid candidate. But for Arsenal to attract these players they need to be in the Champions League.
“They’ve got a job to do on the pitch first and then they can bring in this type of striker.”
Silvestre went onto say that Arsenal’s issues could be resolved if Alexandre Lacazette pens a new deal:
“Lacazette has been playing and scoring, and I’ve always been an admirer of him. He’s such a team player.
“With the previous manager he was in and out of the team, but most of his appearances he’s produced.
“I hope he will continue at Arsenal, especially if they qualify for the Champions League.
“He’s a key element of the squad and the young players can learn so much from him.”
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