Arsenal can complete three-year transfer mission in January - and it won't cost Andrea Berta a penny

Arsenal could be presented with some interesting market opportunities when the January window opens, including one long-term target

Arsenal could finally complete a transfer mission three years in the making in January with the pursuit of one soon-to-be free agent.

The Gunners have enjoyed a stellar season so far in the Premier League and currently lead the way at the top of the table. As things stand, they sit two points clear of nearest challengers Manchester City, and will require a strong second half of the campaign if they are to pip their rivals to the title.

This season’s form has largely been built on a strong summer of recruitment. The arrival of Ebere Eze from London rivals Crystal Palace has been a difference-maker, while the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres, Christian Norgaard, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera have provided much-needed depth.

That said, there is still work to be done with the January window right around the corner, as well as an eye on next summer. One area of the transfer market clubs always look to exploit is free agents, and it is fair to say a number of top players are set to be available in six months’ time.

Among them are defenders Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano, who are yet to pen new deals with Liverpool and Bayern Munich respectively. However, it is further up the pitch where Arsenal's interest could lie, with Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic also entering the final months of his contract.

Arsenal have long been admirers of the Serbia international, whom they missed out on in the summer of 2022 when he left Fiorentina. In his three years with Juventus, the 25-year-old has scored 64 goals and registered 16 assists in 162 appearances across all competitions.

A new deal in Turin has not been explicitly ruled out by the player. However, the longer time goes by without an agreement, the likelier a summer exit becomes. From January, Vlahovic will be free to negotiate pre-contract agreements with clubs outside of Italy.

In January 2022, Sky Sports reported that Arsenal held a strong interest in Vlahovic, but any deal was always set to be complicated due to the transfer fee involved. It was also noted at the time that the player's preference was to join a club competing in the Champions League, a competition for which the Gunners had not qualified in the four seasons prior to that window.

Now, it is fair to say the circumstances have changed significantly. If Vlahovic opts to see out his deal at Juventus, there would be no transfer fee involved, and Arsenal have once again re-established themselves as a European force.

That said, whether Arsenal have moved past their interest in Vlahovic remains the key question, with Gyokeres the player the club have invested in for the long term. Although the Serbian international is still only 25, injuries have plagued his time in Turin, and he is currently sidelined after undergoing surgical repair of a tendon avulsion of the left adductor.