Arsenal are not giving up hope over one of their dream transfer targets, and they might be willing to sacrifice a recent signing to make it happen. The Gunners are on a mission to improve their attack this summer, while they would also like to add a new number 8 to aid their bid to catch the likes of PSG and Bayern Munich at the very top of the world game.
Mikel Arteta is likely to have to replace some squad players this summer, and we already know he will need to find a replacement for Leandro Trossard, who is headed to Besiktas. But the main focus will be finding a new winger and a dynamic midfielder, with the Gunners midfield having been exposed by PSG in the Champions League final for large parts of the game.
As far as the attacking signing goes, Morgan Rogers is a preference, but that could change if Andrea Berta gets the chance to land his dream signing.
Arsenal could make fresh approach for Julián Alvarez
Argentina's Julian AlvarezRodrigo Valle via Reuters
Arsenal have been heavily linked with Atletico Madrid and Argentina star Julián Alvarez, who is widely believed to be Berta's dream signing, given he signed and worked with the forward at Atletico previously. It looked as though Atletico would refuse any and all offers this summer, but with the player admitting publicly that he wants out, they could now be pressured into a deal, and they won't be doing one with Barcelona and Real Madrid amid a very public rift with both clubs.
According to TalkSport, Arsenal are still interested in a deal, and they are said to be exploring the possibility of a swap deal involving striker Viktor Gyokeres, who cost them £55million last summer. Gyokeres had a solid first season in the Premier League, but with Arsenal also needing a left-winger, it's very unlikely they will spend more than £100million on a striker without shifting one of Gyokeres or Kai Havertz.
It could be that Arsenal swap Gyokeres to make a deal happen, but the report does add that the Gunners are not entirely sure about that possibility themselves, and the talks are purely exploratory at this stage.
Alvarez can also play on the wing, but he is primarily a striker, and his goalscoring ability would be wasted should he be played out wide. Alvarez scored 18 times last season, and that was actually a drop from the previous campaign, with Atleti having had a difficult season as a collective.
Messi's love for Alvarez after World Cup screamer
Lionel MessiReuters/Brett Davis
Alvarez scored a super strike to help Argentina to a quarter-final extra-time win over Switzerland at the World Cup. Speaking ahead of Argentina's semi-final with England, star man Lionel Messi said: "No, no, he scored a golazo, but it's not the first time. He's scored several like that. It was a golazo. He has a very good strike of the ball and showed it today. He's been showing it for a long time.
"With Atletico Madrid, he had a lot of goals that were similar, and honestly I'm just happy with the result, because he scored, because Lautaro scored. We needed both of them. I'm very happy with everything."
Alvarez has a release clause worth more than £400million, but Atlético might do business at somewhere over £100million this summer, even if they would prefer not to sell.
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