Jose Mourinho has an extensive past with Arsenal and now, the manager could be set to cause the Gunners more pain.
Mikel Arteta has faced Mourinho three times as Arsenal manager, winning only once when the Portuguese was in charge at Tottenham.
After Mourinho disrespected Arsene Wenger during his time at Chelsea, there was little respect left for the coach in N5, which grew as he ventured to the Gunners’ fellow rivals.
Having overseen things at Manchester United, Spurs and Chelsea, Mourinho is considered a villain at Arsenal and now, the 62-year-old could be about to inflict more pain on the North Londoners.
Jose Mourinho eager to sign long-term Arsenal target Dusan Vlahovic
While there’s no love lost between Arsenal and Mourinho, it can’t be said that the coach isn’t inspired by what’s going on at the Emirates.
In January, it was reported that Mourinho wanted to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko from the Gunners and according to recent reports, that’s not where transfer links end.
In Turkey, Hurriyet claim that Fenerbahce are ready to take the first steps to attempt to lure long-term Arsenal target Dusan Vlahovic to Istanbul.
Vlahovic is a player that the Gunners are admirers of in their search to locate an out-and-out number nine but, Mourinho could hand Arteta a blow in his mission to recruit the Serbian.
Hurriyet state that Mourinho has ‘requested’ for Fenerbahce to sign Vlahovic in the summer, as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract at Juventus.
The report claims that the Turkish club have ‘started working intensively’ to sign the striker following Mourinho’s plea to secure the 25-year-old’s signature.
It would be a significant blow for Arsenal to lose out on their long-standing target to Mourinho, who has already caused those at the Emirates great pain, winning 52% of his meetings with the Gunners.
New price tag mentioned in race to sign Dusan Vlahovic
Arsenal have approached Juventus for Vlahovic in the past but, the Serbia international remains part of the squad in Turin.
Since then, things have changed considerably for the forward, who has dropped out of Thiago Motta’s favoured XI to make way for January signing Randal Kolo Muani.
In his previous five Serie A fixtures, Vlahovic has played only 40 minutes, which could indicate why his price is reported to have dipped.
Juventus quoted Arsenal £46m for Vlahovic in January, a fee that has since dropped considerably, as per Hurriyet’s understanding.
The Turkish outlet believes Fenerbahce could strike a deal for as low as €25m (£20m) for the striker in the summer, which is news to Arsenal.
Who knows what the future holds for Vlahovic, who must begin to show a greater level of form is he is to see his interest from the Gunners resurface in the summer transfer window.
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