Arsenal edging closer to Julian Alvarez move, following 'concrete offer': report

Arsenal have tabled a “concrete offer” for Argentina World Cup-winner Julian Alvarez as Mikel Arteta attempts to secure the forward as the club’s marquee summer acquisition, according to reports in France.

Media Foot claims the Gunners have formally presented terms to the 25-year-old, who is also on the radar of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Spanish outlet Sport recently labelled Alvarez Barça’s “priority target”, while PSG have long admired the former Manchester City attacker.

The north-London club’s urgency has intensified after a demoralising 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth that trimmed their Premier League lead over champions Manchester City to six points, with City holding a game in hand ahead of next weekend’s crunch meeting at the Etihad. Arteta described the loss as “a punch in the face” to his side’s title ambitions.

Despite Viktor Gyokeres leading Arsenal’s scoring charts across all competitions, the Swede’s difficulties with Premier League physicality and hold-up play have convinced recruitment staff that Alvarez’s movement and dynamism would provide a better tactical fit. Negotiations are complicated, however, by the need to generate outgoing funds; Arsenal signed eight players last summer and must balance the books before sanctioning another nine-figure outlay. Atletico Madrid inserted a €500 million release clause when they bought Alvarez from City for €95 million two summers ago, and Transfermarkt currently values him at €90 million.

Gabriel Martinelli has emerged as a potential makeweight, with PSG monitoring the Brazilian winger after a season that has yielded only one Premier League goal. BBC journalist Sami Mokbel has previously suggested that Alvarez’s arrival would hinge on the departure of either Gyokeres or Kai Havertz, although the latter has increasingly been deployed in midfield. Gabriel Jesus, still regaining sharpness following anterior cruciate ligament surgery, could also be moved on, though Gyokeres is thought unlikely to leave so soon after his own 2024 switch to the Emirates.

Sporting director Andrea Berta, appointed last year after a long spell at Atletico, is tasked with structuring a deal that may approach the €100 million mark while ensuring compliance with profit-and-sustainability regulations. Arsenal continue their Champions League quarter-final campaign against Sporting this week, but off-pitch focus is fixed on whether Berta can edge the club ahead of Europe’s heavyweights in the race for Alvarez’s signature.