Arsenal’s move for Dusan Vlahovic in further doubt as Fiorentina confirm Covid-19 outbreak

Arsenal’s bid to sign Dusan Vlahovic appears to be dead in the water, with the striker omitted from Fiorentina’s 23-man squad this weekend amid a Covid-19 outbreak at the club.

Fiorentina confirmed two players – both vaccinated and asymptomatic – had tested positive for the virus ahead of their trip to Cagliari in Serie A and top goalscorer Vlahovic, 21, was subsequently left at home.

Attacking midfielder Riccardo Saponara, who has started Fiorentina’s last two matches, is the other notable absentee in Vincenzo Italiano’s travelling party for Sunday’s clash in Sardinia.

Vlahovic has taken the Italian top flight by storm this season – netting 20 times in 23 appearances – and the Serbia international is being targeted by Arsenal this January, as well as Juventus and Inter Milan.

The Gunners are planning for the future without Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and have reportedly offered Fiorentina £50million plus Lucas Torreira for Vlahovic.

But the latest news coming out of Fiorentina will be a huge concern for Arsenal given just over a week remains of the transfer window, with head coach Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu determined to bring in quality up front.

Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin have also been linked and may come to the fore again should a deal for Vlahovic prove impossible this month.

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Fiorentina manager Italiano said he was counting down the days for the transfer window to close when asked about Vlahovic’s future ahead of the side’s trip to Cagliari.

‘We can’t wait for this transfer window to end. Playing in the middle of the transfer market is