Arsenal may have received some encouragement in their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, with the Atletico Madrid striker reportedly no longer completely ruling out a move to the Emirates.
The Argentine has been linked with the Gunners throughout the summer, but his preference for Barcelona has seemingly been a major obstacle to Arsenal making further progress.
However, with the transfer window closing at 11pm on September 1 and a move to Barcelona becoming increasingly complicated, Alvarez’s position towards Arsenal may now be beginning to soften.
Alvarez no longer completely rules out Arsenal
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Alvarez still prioritises a move to Barcelona and his previous ‘no’ to Arsenal remains in place. Crucially, though, the report adds that he has not completely forgotten about the possibility of joining the English champions.
That potentially leaves the door open for Arsenal should his preferred move fail to materialise before the deadline.
Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta are reported to have maintained frequent contact with the forward, who is said to have appreciated Arsenal’s interest.
The Standard has gone further by positioning Arsenal as frontrunners for his signature amid suggestions that the relationship between Alvarez and Atletico has become increasingly strained.
Alvarez was absent from Atletico’s opening La Liga victory over Malaga, with Diego Simeone saying before the match that the striker was “not in condition to play in this match.”
Despite all the speculation, Atletico have continued to publicly insist that Alvarez will not be leaving.
Simeone insists Alvarez remains important
Simeone has confirmed that Alvarez will be part of his squad to face Villarreal on Sunday and reiterated how highly he values the Argentine.
“Julian Alvarez will be in the squad tomorrow,” Simeone said. “For me, Julian is an extremely important player for us to achieve our objectives. As long as he’s with the team, I’m going to look after him.”
The Atletico boss also defended Alvarez amid criticism from sections of the club’s support and insisted there is no uncertainty from Atletico’s perspective.
“There is no uncertainty. Miguel was very clear. He is our player and we need him.”
That leaves an interesting situation heading into the final days of the transfer window.
Atletico remain adamant that Alvarez is staying, while the player reportedly still wants Barcelona. Yet if that move proves impossible, Arsenal now appear to have greater hope than they did previously that the 26-year-old could reconsider the Emirates.
With the deadline approaching, the question is whether Arsenal will now attempt to take advantage of that apparent change in stance.
Would you like Arsenal to make a late push for Julian Alvarez, or should the Gunners concentrate on other targets before the transfer window closes? Let us know in the comments.
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Cannot get his dream move to Barcelona so softens his stance on Arsenal.
As soon as next years summer transfer window opens and Barcelona have a few pennies to spend he will kick up a storm to force his dream move.
Alvarez can go **** himself.
I don’t know how others feel but I don’t want any member of that Argentinian national team at Arsenal..
Couldn’t agree more, mind you Arteta will throw his toys out the pram if he doesn’t get his dream move for the 8 goal he scored last year in la liga
Arteta and Berta – and Gary Neville – are aligned on this being the final piece in the jigsaw, so we just have to trust them. It’s all over twitter Berta is currently in Madrid finalising this deal – so looks like Alvarez is coming. We just have to trust Arteta and Berta and Gary Neville, on seeing what we don’t see.
I’m not sure where we play him. He likely takes Odegaard’s spot I suspect.
You cant drop odegaard in this form he is currently…
Then Barca have to pay over the top to get their man.
Nothing really wrong in persuading someone to work for you. We encounter it daily in the cooperate world.
Rival companies poaching on the best of their rivals workforce.
It’s a dog eat dog world.
Alvarez is an upgrade 👌 on what we currently have.
Arsenal must pursue Victor Osimehn,Alvarez’s heart is somewhere else please stop pushing for someone who does not want to be Arsenal player
One of the reasons he left City was because he couldn’t get Visas for his family and he was unsettled and missed them. That is still the case apparently, so why are we trying to force the situation? Or are we ? A lot of this us recycled news.
This guy cries for Barcelona, and some at Arsenal pine away for him like a love struck fool, it’s embarrassing really.
Never got what is special about this guy. A different universe from Haaland and Mbappe, not even close. More like the Isak/Gyokeres level of player in my opinion.
Never seen him dominate or take over games, grab a game by the scruff, and carry a team for a result. So far, Tzolis has enough creativity to share with Martinelli and Madueke, no need for Alvarez.
Alvarez doesn’t want to come to Arsenal. Leave well alone, we only want players who want to play for Arsenal.
He’ll seriously disturb the settling of Gyokeres who really blew up bridges to be part of our project. The same is prepared to put up a bigger fight this season with all the support that’s currently been organised around him …..
Wish this guy were left alone ….
It’s a no brainer having this guy in our team. He would ruin Arsenal project; can someone tell me what’s special about him compared to Gyokeres?
I guess Alvarez is not the striking or the attacking force that Arsenal FC need. We need Osimhen or keep Martinelli and play him as a backup striker finish and this paparazzi.
I suspect Gooners who want him imagine him as our flying left winger, like Barcola.
I have never seem Alvarez play well in a live game. Correct me where wrong, Man City used him as winger like they did Jesus, national side use him as lone 9 up front, Atleti use him in a sort of quasi 10 free roaming support striker.
We saw a lot of him in World Cup, didn’t stand out either in athleticism or influence in games. We had good close look at him in the semi a few months back, where he didn’t look fit or quick.
I’d prefer Nico Williams, who is genuine left forward -where I don’t think that is Alvarez best position.
I ask two questions should we sign him. Firstly, he clearly wants to join Barcelona. And having now burned his bridges at Atletico who refuse to sell him to Barcelona, he now would join Arsenal.
I think he would be just using Arsenal as a stop gap until Barcelona come knocking, believing that it would be easier to get the move from Arsenal.
The second question being, is he going to replace Gyokeres?. If so, how many people on this forum believe he would score more than the 21 goals Gyokeres scored for us in his settling in season.
If Arteta thinks Alvarez and Haverz can be our strikers with Merino as back up back up, I think he is wrong. Alvarez left City because he was unhappy not being able to get Visas for his family, that hasn’t changed. I smell something, and I think we are being used. It is a lot of money to pay for someone who doesn’t really want to be here. I would be very surprised if we are getting Alvarez. Very surprised and especially if it is at the expense of Gyokores. He isn’t a Gyokores replacement.
I may be underestimating Alvarez, but simply put, imo having Gyokeres available as a striker is more important (even if he doesn’t get better) to this offence than Alvarez would be.
Arsenal must push for Alvarez to come to the Emirates, if we sign him then Arsenal will definitely win Champions league
Can you explain your thinking?
Havertz has scored a winner in ECL final and scored in the last one a few months ago. If Alvarez plays ahead of Havertz, we stand more chance of winning it?
Do you know Alvarez current state very well, and have been following him? Is he currently fit, or still carrying the issues he had end of last season and during the World Cup?
Moon Girl, Havertz scored the first goal against PSG in that final, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the winner.
But still more than the much vaunted PSG managed from open play 😃
Why do so many of you feel we are so far behind PSG, and we just can’t win it with this current squad 🤷♀️
Do you live all your lives believing the grass is definitely greener on the other side?
When these Superstars of World Football come into the Prem, or England meet them in the World Cups, they all look so human and ordinary don’t they? What about some recognition for the world class superstars we already have here at Arsenal. How many goals did Arsenal put passed France for Bronze medals?
Moongirl, I don’t really think that we’re “so far behind PSG”, I mean, we took them to a penalty shoot-out, but still see them as the best team in the world, Arsenal are their biggest challenger, and with our now improved team, will perhaps match them.
Can not see it? Waaaaaaay overrated.
It does look like this purchase is actually happening though.
I’ve just been trawling all football social and mainstream media, and everybody thinks we are actually currently agreeing this transfer with Atleti – that Atleti and Alvarez on board now.
We just have to trust Arteta and our club, that Alvarez isn’t the injury prone, sluggish and moody geezer who doesn’t want to be here, sees Atleti negotiating with us and not Barca as being a punishment for him – that so many of us on JA seem to be thinking – but this is a true game changing superstar of world football, and throw our lot in with our clubs massive choice here.
We could feel feel our club had something big lined up, statement signing? but I thought it would be Barcola – or as long shot Yildiz – because unlike Alvarez, those two players actually want to be here.