Gary Neville has urged Arsenal to make a late move for Julian Alvarez, claiming the Atletico Madrid forward could provide the attacking spark required to take Mikel Arteta’s side to another level.
Alvarez has been at the centre of transfer speculation throughout the summer, with Arsenal among the clubs monitoring the Argentina international. The 26-year-old’s future at Atletico remains uncertain, although the Spanish club have repeatedly maintained that they do not want to sell their prized forward.
Speaking after ARSENAL opened their Premier League title defence with a 3-0 victory over Coventry City, Neville said the addition of Alvarez would “light this place up” and could transform the Gunners into serious Champions League contenders
“What a squad he has built. If he puts another forward into that. If they could get Julian Alvarez somehow, that would light this place up as you’d have a world-class striker to go with all the world-class defenders and midfielders.
“They wouldn’t just become Premier League title winners they’d go the next step and win a Champions League. It’s a massive 10 days. He needs a bit of magic up front – someone that can win a game for you when you don’t play well.”
Alvarez’s situation remains complicated, however. Atletico have been firm in their public stance that they do not intend to sell the striker, while reports indicate the player has expressed a preference for Barcelona. Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin recently reiterated that the club considers Alvarez central to its plans.
ARSENAL remain interested, but manager Arteta has played down suggestions that his squad is incomplete following the opening-day win.
With the transfer window entering its final stages, Neville’s endorsement has nevertheless added further intrigue to a potential move that, if completed, could significantly strengthen Arsenal’s pursuit of major honours
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