Arsenal are leading the race to sign Dusan Vlahovic this month, according to the ever-reliable David Ornstein...

What's the word?

The Athletic reporter delivered a fresh update on the Gunners' pursuit of the Fiorentina talisman in a recent online Q&A.

'The area of most pressing concern at present is the striker department as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future looks bleak, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are approaching the end of their contracts and Folarin Balogun is close to joining Middlesbrough on loan. This is why Arsenal are trying to sign Fiorentina’s Vlahovic,' he wrote.

'That is not to say a deal will be done but they are pushing and my information is that if the 21-year-old is to move in January then, as things stand, Arsenal are in the strongest position to sign him. That is because they are thought to be the best placed of Vlahovic’s current suitors when it comes to both the fee and salary. They could also explore turning Lucas Torreira’s loan with the Italians into a permanent transfer as part of any agreement.'

Edu must strike

It's now on the Arsenal hierarchy to try and convince the prolific Serbian striker into a move this month, otherwise they open up the prospects of missing out on him come the summer.

The 21-year-old is enjoying quite a breakthrough campaign, having found the net 18 times in just 22 appearances, adding to his 21 goals in the whole of last season.

Such form has seen him lauded as a "complete number nine" by Serie A expert Conor Clancy and being mentioned in the same breath as other elite young forwards such as Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

As Ornstein mentions, the futures of Aubameyang and Lacazette are by no means certain, particularly the latter, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

It means that Mikel Arteta is in desperate need of an addition in the role, and ultimately there won't be many better young talents available than Vlahovic, who is sure to leave La Viola in the near future.

Valued at a whopping £63m by Transfermarkt, the 6 foot 3 powerhouse wouldn't come cheap, but given his age, it would be an investment that would undoubtedly breed returns in the long run.

Several other clubs, including some of the Gunners' top-flight rivals such as Spurs, have been linked with a move for Vlahovic in the past, so for Ornstein to say that Arsenal are in the strongest position to sign him right now is certainly a huge source of encouragement.

Lots of supporters around the Emirates Stadium should be buzzing with this development.

AND in other news, Arteta could finally axe Arsenal's £110k-p/w flop by signing £16.2m-rated "big talent"...