Arsenal face Atletico Madrid in Spain in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday evening with their eyes on a spot in the final
Julian Alvarez speaks during a press conference
Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez has hit out at the transfer rumours (Image: Diario AS)
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Mikel Arteta's Arsenal will have their sights set on a spot in the Champions League final as they prepare to face off against Atletico Madrid. The Gunners will contest the first leg of their semi-final in the Spanish capital tonight.
Arsenal have had a European campaign to remember, winning every game in the league phase before overcoming Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting CP to seal a place in the final four.
Now, Atletico are the only thing standing between the north London side and a first Champions League final since 2006. Attempting to stop them will be Diego Simeone – and the manager's star striker, Julian Alvarez.
Julian Alvarez addresses transfer rumours
Alvarez has been linked with Arsenal since the beginning of the January window. Speculation had suggested that Arteta sees Alvarez as his top target ahead of the summer and a fee of £86million could be enough to seal his signature.
Manager Simeone has addressed these rumours numerous times, including before the game against the Gunners. A fee in excess of £120m is now expected to be Atletico's asking price.
Julian Alvarez #19 of Club Atletico de Madrid speaks to the media during the press conference ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match against Seattle Sounders FC
Alvarez shut down the speculation(Image: Getty)
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But the 26-year-old has seemingly grown frustrated with all of this conjecture and he said in his pre-Arsenal press conference as per Sport: "I try not to pay too much attention to everything that's said.
"New things come out every week, all kinds of new information. I try not to waste energy on that and focus on what we're doing here. I can't come out and clarify or deny everything that comes out. I try not to give too much importance to what's said on social media.
"It often starts to become a snowball of lies. I don't want to waste energy on this and I want to save it for things that help the team. We are focused on who we are today as a group, and we want to make history ourselves."
Arsenal interested in Bournemouth ace
In terms of other transfer news involving the Gunners, talkSPORT reports that they are keeping close tabs on Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi.
Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth celebrates after he scores a goal to make it 1-0 during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Leeds United
Kroupi has shone for the Cherries this season(Image: Getty)
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The Frenchman has bagged 11 top-flight goals this season at just 19 years of age and has already attracted a league of suitors. Both Liverpool and ManchesterUnited's names have been linked to Kroupi, as has Arsenal's.
Bournemouth parted with just £10m when they snapped Kroupi up from French side Lorient in February 2025, but more reports suggest his new price tag is far higher.
It has been claimed that the Cherries have slapped an £80m valuation on Kroupi, £16m more than the £64m they sold Antoine Semenyo to City for. There is reportedly no release clause in Kroupi's contract.
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