Arsenal are ready to move on from David Villa and switch their attentions to one of the brightest young talents in Europe in Stevan Jovetic.
The Gunners missed out on the marquee signing of Villa from Barcelona in the January transfer window after the La Liga leaders refused to sell their player.
While there were suggestions that Villa might make a summer move to Arsenal, having already told Arsene Wenger of his preference to move the Emirates, it now looks like the Arsenal manager might have other plans.
There is little doubt that Wenger rarely buys players over 30, rather preferring to invest in youth and try to turn them into world-beaters. Villa is 31, and will cost Arsenal over £10 million ($16 million), while Jovetic is 23 and has been rated at around £25 million ($40 million).
Villa will make Arsenal a better team, that is beyond any doubt; the only question in whether Wenger is ready to make a huge investment for a player who will have on resale value, now that he has time to reconsider his options over the next few months.
Jovetic has been tipped for great things, and while Fiorentina have held on to their star player for so long, it is looking increasingly likely that the Montenegrin will leave the Italian club at the end of the season.
The fact that Viola have bought Guiseppe Rossi has also further enhanced the chances of Jovetic moving to a new club in the summer.
Jovetic, who has nine goals and three assists in 18 Serie A games this season, has been linked with a move to Arsenal for quite a while now, and has also attracted the attention of some of the other big names in Europe, including Manchester City, who reportedly had a bid turned down last summer.
City are thought to be moving for Edinson Cavani next season, even with the new financial restrictions that was voted through Thursday, which might pave the way for Arsenal to make a move for Jovetic.
The Gunners have plenty of funds available and the reported transfer fee of £25 million ($40 million) should not pose too much of a problem.
Arsenal need another striker who can add goals to the team and take the side to the next level, capable of competing for the English Premier League title. Jovetic, or even Villa, might just be the answer to that.
