Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Media Foot.
The Gunners have been fancied to pursue a new striker at the end of the campaign, and Alvarez has repeatedly been mentioned as the prime choice.
It is now claimed that the club have ‘just made a concrete move’ for the World Cup winner.
The Argentine is the top striker target for manager Mikel Arteta. The Gunners are holding talks with his representatives to find a solution on personal terms.
There is no agreement at the moment. Arsenal wanted to sort out with the player first before making a formal approach to Atletico for his services this summer.
Alvarez seems open to securing a new challenge away from Diego Simeone’s side.
Arsenal face tough challenge of landing Alvarez’s signature
The 26-year-old managed 29 goals and eight assists for Atletico in his debut season. He may not reach that tally, with 18 goals and nine assists across all competitions so far this term.
Alvarez has endured a testing campaign in La Liga, but the Argentine has been brilliant in the Champions League and recently scored a stellar free-kick against Barcelona at Camp Nou.
Alvarez, described as ‘world-class‘ by FIFA.com, has played as an out-and-out striker for Atletico, but he can also operate from the right wing or as an attacking midfielder when required.
His versatility and regular goal contributions make him a no-brainer signing for Arsenal. However, a deal could be difficult to secure even if they agree on personal terms with Alvarez.
Alvarez was signed for an initial £64 million from Manchester City in 2024, and Atletico could easily hold out for £100m or even more to contemplate the departure of their prized asset.
The other potential concern could be the underlying interest from Barcelona. The Catalan giants would be a more lucrative destination based on their silverware success. Arsenal may want assurances from the striker first to avoid a bidding war with the La Liga leaders during the summer transfer window.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com