Arsenal are in a strong position to make a blockbuster move for Atletico Madrid superstar Julian Alvarez this summer, with reports indicating the club can comfortably afford a fee exceeding €100 million (£86.7m+).
The Argentine forward, who previously enjoyed huge success at Manchester City before his big-money switch to Spain, is reportedly open to returning to the Premier League. While Barcelona remains his preferred destination, Atletico Madrid are understood to be unwilling to sell to their La Liga rivals, making a move to England a more realistic option if the price is right.
Atletico would consider offers from Premier League clubs should they surpass the €100 million mark, paving the way for Arsenal—and potentially Chelsea—to step in. However, the Gunners appear to be leading the chase, with Mikel Arteta personally driving the pursuit.
Arteta has already spoken to Alvarez over the phone and has now scheduled an in-person meeting with the 26-year-old during the upcoming international break. The Arsenal boss is determined to convince the versatile attacker to join his project at the Emirates, where he is seen as a key addition to bolster the forward line.
Reports highlight that Diego Simeone has genuine reason to be concerned, with Arteta emerging as the primary threat to Atletico’s hold on their prized asset.
This bold push comes amid Arsenal’s broader summer planning, including enquiries for other talents like Athletic Club winger Nico Williams and interest in prospects such as Inter Milan’s Pio Esposito and Midtjylland’s Dario Osorio. Yet Alvarez stands out as a high-profile target the club believes they can secure financially and personally through Arteta’s direct involvement.
A move for the World Cup winner would represent a major statement of intent from Arsenal as they aim to close the gap at the top of English football.