Arsenal has reportedly ramped up their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, initiating direct contact with Atletico Madrid regarding a potential transfer, although a valuation gap remains a sticking point.
The Gunners have been consistently linked with the Argentina international, and new information suggests significant movement. According to Di Marzio journalist Luca Bendoni, Arsenal's ownership has engaged in direct discussions with Atletico about signing Alvarez. Barcelona is also noted to be heavily involved in the transfer saga.
"There are direct fresh contacts between the ownership at Arsenal and Atleti regarding a possible transfer. There is still a gap in the valuation of the Argentine," Bendoni shared on X, with the update also being corroborated by the reliable Hand of Arsenal account.
The Hand of Arsenal report indicates that manager Mikel Arteta is a strong admirer of Alvarez, viewing the 26-year-old as a potentially game-changing signing for the club. Atletico Madrid's apparent reluctance to sell Alvarez to rivals Barcelona could also play into Arsenal's hands, provided they meet the asking price.
Alvarez recorded 20 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions last season. While this tally was lower than Viktor Gyokeres's output, many believe Alvarez's overall skillset would represent a significant upgrade on current options like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. His previous experience in the Premier League with Manchester City also means he would require minimal adaptation.
However, the substantial transfer fee required for Alvarez, coupled with Arsenal's interest in other targets like Morgan Rogers and Bruno Guimaraes, presents a financial challenge. Securing multiple high-profile signings may prove difficult under the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules unless significant player sales are made.
