Atletico Madrid would consider selling Julian Alvarez to Arsenal this summer, but only for a hefty transfer fee.
Mario Cortegana reports for The Athletic that Atletico Madrid see Arsenal as the only possible exit route for Julian Alvarez this summer, but one source close to the club’s leadership suggested it would need to be a €150m (£128.4m) offer.
The same source suggested that they believed it’s unlikely Arsenal would pay that kind of money, but that Alvarez’s situation at Atletico is becoming a farce.
The player was roundly whistled and insulted by his own supporters during their game at the weekend. He also left the pitch early as his teammates applauded the fans, though Diego Simeone explained that this was the club’s decision.
Much of this transfer saga remains the same as it has all summer. Alvarez’s priority destination is still Barcelona, Atletico are still completely unwilling to sell to Barcelona, and Alvarez is still stalling on entertaining Arsenal’s interest.
James McNicholas confims for The Athletic that Arsenal have been in contact with Alvarez’s camp over the last week, but they need encouragement before proceeding with club talks.
Fabrizio Romano reported this week that Arsenal have asked the player’s camp to keep them informed if he decides to open the door to a return to the Premier League.
Romano suggested Alvarez hasn’t closed the door to the Gunners, he just wants Barcelona over all other options.
Spanish outlet AS report that Alvarez is appreciative of Arsenal’s pursuit of him, and he views them favourably as an alternative.
But the UK visa restriction issues he experienced with his loved ones when playing for Manchester City make him hesitant to play in England again.
If this saga is going to reach a positive conclusion from an Arsenal perspective, things are going to need to start to move quickly in the coming days.
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