Arsenal are looking into a potential move for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez this summer, according to a report.
James Olley reports for ESPN that Arsenal are exploring the possibility of a summer move for Atletico Madrid and former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez, with Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta still having strong links with his old club Atletico.
Berta was the man who signed Alvarez for Atletico from Manchester City in the first place, and he’s reportedly still close with the player’s agent.
Olley adds that Barcelona are also interested, but their ongoing financial difficulties make a transfer difficult. Atletico reportedly want over €100m (£86.8m) to sell, and that’s if they’ll even consider selling at all.
The report adds that the nature of Arsenal’s contact remains unclear, but sources suggest club officials have made informal enquiries to see if a deal would be possible.
The club also considered a move for Alvarez this summer, but given the finances involved and the Gunners’ heavy investment in 2025, that was always going to be an unlikely move at the time.
With Arsenal doing so well financially both in terms of their on-field revenues and their new commercial deals, you’d think there would be the capacity for another big-money signing this summer.
Alvarez has 11 goals and five assists for Atletico so far this season, following a 29-goal year in his debut campaign with the club in 2024/25.
The 25-year-old also did well with Manchester City, scoring 19 and assisting 14 in 2023/24. He was averaging a goal or assist every 105 minutes in that final season in England.
But Alvarez found himself competing with Europe’s foremost goalscorer in Erling Haaland, so it wasn’t too surprising to see him deciding to move on. Perhaps Mikel Arteta could now tempt him back.