Arsenal are keen to complete a move for Dusan Vlahovic this month, according to the ever-reliable David Ornstein...

What's the word?

"Vlahovic is at the top of the list.

"My information is that they would be prepared to do the deal [in January]. They would be prepared to fund it, and I think Fiorentina would be prepared to cash in on him with 18 months to go and the rejection of a new contract," he revealed to his own show on The Athletic's YouTube channel.

"This may be the point in which they can extract maximum value in the remainder of his term but whether he wants to do it now, whether his agent - or is going to play a key role in this situation - wants to do it, is a completely different matter.

"There are reported doubts of that element. There were suggestions that he was going to stay and decide in the summer, with more options in front of him. I know that he is keen to break more goalscoring records in Italy, so it's a really delicate situation that with quite a few days left in the window to go, I don't think Arsenal are going to turn their back on.

"A lot of people are keen to suggest where that money might come from. Well, I think it's the sort of thing that Arsenal would need to lean on their ownership for support. Once again, we saw it in the case of Thomas Partey, for example"

Exciting news!

There have been a number of different reports on this situation - some suggest that the Serbia international is far from keen to join the Gunners, whilst others claim that a bid has actually already been accepted.

Few are more trustworthy than Ornstein when it comes to anything Arsenal related, so for him to say that the north London giants are keen to fund a move for him this month is hugely, hugely encouraging and it should leave the Emirates Stadium faithful absolutely buzzing with excitement.

There are a little over ten days left to go and it appears as if Vlahovic is the priority for Mikel Arteta and co.

It's easy to see why too.

The 21-year-old is one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe right now as he's been in electric form for La Viola.

As per Transfermarkt, the 6 foot 3 marksman has found the net 20 times in 24 appearances, adding to his total of 21 goals in 2020/21. Only Robert Lewandowski bagged more goals than Vlahovic in 2021.

Such exploits have led to him being talked about in the same breath as players like Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.

His former coach at Partizan, Ivan Tomic, once dubbed him a "monster" who will be worth in excess of €100m (£83m) one day, as revealed by then-assistant Zarko Lazetic to Sky Sports.

Vlahovic offers the Gunners a different kind of threat, particularly aerially given his height but he is also quick, aggressive and has a light touch.

The futures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah seem rather dubious in north London right now, so the need for a striker is certainly at the top of the list.

On the above evidence, plenty of supporters should be left buzzing by Ornstein's fresh update.

AND in other news, Arsenal could secure Arteta's perfect Vlahovic alternative in £45m-rated "phenomenon"...