Arsenal targeting surprise Vlahovic alternative – Has ‘complete liking’ of Arteta, €70m release clause

With Arsenal now very unlikely to pull off the signing of Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina, it seems the London side have started looking for alternatives in the January market.

According to the latest reports from Spain, the Gunners have now set sights on Espanyol striker Raul de Tomas.

AS claims that now that the Gunners see Vlahovic’s arrival as ‘nearly impossible’, the Spaniard became one of the options, as he’s ‘to the complete liking of Mikel Arteta’.

It’s claimed that a scout from Arsenal had already watched De Tomas in action for Espanyol at the Estadio Cornellà-El Prat, which means he’s been a target for the Gunners for a while.

AS claims that no official bid has been put on the table yet, but Espanyol are already aware that the striker ‘is in Arsenal’s agenda’.

It’s pointed out that the player is protected by a €70m release clause, although it isn’t said how much the La Liga side would demand for his move.

The report also recalls that De Tomas, who has 12 goals in La Liga this season, had previously been wanted by the likes of Leeds United, Leicester City and West Ham United.