Wenger targets Juventus star Vucinic as Arsenal look for loan deal to bolster attack

By MARK RYAN

Published: 17:33 EST, 18 January 2014 | Updated: 06:14 EST, 19 January 2014

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic on loan to boost the club’s title hopes — but the Italian club are trying to force through a £10million sale.

Arsenal’s transfer negotiator Dick Law has been in touch with the Serie A club about a loan deal for the 30-year-old Montenegro striker.

Agent Alessandro Lucci, who represents Vucinic, is understood to be ready to fly to London this week  to assess Arsenal’s desire to sign his  client.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Arsene Wenger Arsenal's best ever season

Wanted: Arsenal have shown interest in bring Mirko Vucinic (above) to the Emirates on loan

Arsenal stayed on top of the Barclays  Premier League table yesterday — one point ahead of Manchester City — with a 2-0 home win over Fulham.

Vucinic now looks the most realistic option to boost their strike power, with Theo Walcott out for the season and Olivier Giroud and Nicklas Bendtner the only recognised centre-forwards in Wenger’s squad.

The manager is prepared to rely on Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski as alternatives to Giroud but clearly it would be desirable to bring in an experienced centre-forward.

With Real Madrid refusing to release Alvaro Morato, the striker Wenger had hoped to bring in on loan to supplement his team, Arsenal have turned to Vucinic. 

Ammunition: Arsenal's only recognised strikers are Olivier Giroud (left) and Nicklas Bendtner

Missing: Theo Walcott has been ruled out for six months with anterior cruciate ligament injury

He has fallen down the pecking order at the Serie A leaders, behind Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente.

The stumbling block which could prevent the move is that Juventus want to sell the player and will not settle for less than £10m.

Wenger wants to keep his transfer funds for the summer, when he is expected to bid for Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa, Bayern Munich’s Mario Mandzukic and Schalke’s Julian  Draxler.

Wenger last night admitted he was still on the hunt for a striker.

‘We are looking at potential possibilities to get someone in but we are not especially interested in Vucinic,’ he said.

‘I would love to announce to you something that would excite you but I don’t have the opportunity to do so.’

Preferred: Mirko Vucinic has fallen down the pecking order behind Carlos Tevez (above) and Fernando Llorente