Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has urged the Gunners to sign Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez this summer.
The London giants ended their 22-year wait for the Premier League title earlier this week. They could end the campaign on a higher note by winning the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain.
Regardless, the Gunners’ hierarchy are planning to reinforce the squad in the summer, and it has been reported that the club are weighing up a move for Alvarez ahead of the transfer window.
Speaking to 10bet, Parlour has described Alvarez as a goalscorer and believes he would be a no-brainer signing for Arsenal, given he is a good finisher and has different attributes to Viktor Gyokeres.
He said: “I think that would be a decent signing, definitely. I mean, he’s a goalscorer, and he’s done really well at Atlético. I think it’s a no-brainer. There aren’t a lot of great strikers around, are there?
“I was talking to my mate in the pub the other day, and I said, in my era—just looking at English players—you had Shearer, Fowler, Les Ferdinand, Teddy Sheringham. You had so many good strikers.
“But if you look at it now, there’s a real lack of top strikers. I’m sure there’d be a lot of clubs after Álvarez, but he would fit in pretty nicely. He’s hard-working, a good finisher, and quick.
“He’s a little bit different to Gyökeres, isn’t he? Sometimes you can play two up front; maybe he can drop a little bit deeper at times and run off Gyökeres.
“That could work. But that’s the position I think they’ve really got to look at—centre-forward.”
Alvarez would be a brilliant acquisition for Arsenal
The Argentina international signed for Atletico from Manchester City in the summer of 2024, and had a brilliant debut season with 29 goals and eight assists from 57 appearances across all competitions.
He has struggled to find the same level of consistency this campaign, but has still notched 20 goals and nine assists from 49 outings. Alvarez is in the prime of his career and should only get better.
Arsenal believe he could be signed for around £86 million at the end of the season, and we believe he would be a fine acquisition, given his ability to operate in multiple roles beyond leading the line.
Alvarez, described as ‘world-class‘ by Fifa.com, can play as a second striker or an attacking midfielder, considering his good distribution skills and ability to create chances through quick link-up play.
He has also fared well as a right winger in the past for River Plate. There have also been suggestions that manager Mikel Arteta could play Alvarez as a left winger.
The big question remains whether Alvarez would accept joining the Gunners, knowing he won’t be a guaranteed starter as a centre-forward, which is his preferred position.
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