Football transfer rumours: Vlahovic to solve Arsenal’s striker problem?

As the fallout from Arsenal’s absurdly wasteful FA Cup defeat to Manchester United – and Gabriel Jesus’s season-ending injury – rolls on, the gossip machine has gone into overdrive trying to identify someone who can put away their chances. While Benjamin Sesko is the name on everyone’s lips, it wouldn’t be a transfer window without them being linked with Dusan Vlahovic.

The tea in Italy is that Juventus are willing to cash in their chips. The Serbia striker’s contract runs to 2026 and negotiations are apparently at a standstill, meaning the Bianconeri have limited opportunities to recoup their investment, and with Randal Kolo Muani on his way from Paris Saint-Germain they have a ready-made replacement, so it all makes sense, possibly.

Related: Men’s transfer window January 2025: all deals from Europe’s top five leagues

PSG, meanwhile, seem to have shunted their way to the front of the queue to sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli. There have even been suggestions of a verbal agreement between the two clubs, though whether that manifests as an actual, contractual agreement remains to be seen.

While Kvaratskhelia was a target for Liverpool, it now looks like departures are higher on the agenda than arrivals. Darwin Núñez could be the latest player to succumb to the cold transactional logic of the Saudi Pro League, having been subject to big-money interest from Al-Hilal, though the Reds are supposedly holding out for a bid so huge it could fund deals for Bryan Mbeumo, Milos Kerkez and Stefanos Tzimas.

Elsewhere, Manchester United have reignited their interest in Zion Suzuki, the Parma goalkeeper, who they almost signed a couple of years back before bringing in André Onana. He’s valued at a cool £40m and has also been scouted by Chelsea.

And, to cap it all off, Celtic are fighting to keep hold of their wunderkind striker Daniel Cummings, with West Ham and Brighton circling menacingly. The 18-year-old has 24 goals in as many games for Celtic’s reserves this season and, despite his contract expiring in the summer, the Scottish champions are still hoping to convince him to sign a new deal.