Can ANYBODY Stop Arsenal From Winning The Premier League Again
Atletico Madrid have set a deadline of Friday for Julian Alvarez to make a decision on his future to ensure the club has adequate time to secure a replacement if he departs.
Although Alvarez's primary ambition is a move to Barcelona, Atletico refuse to deal with their La Liga rivals unless an offer of around €150m (£128m) is submitted, which Barcelona currently cannot afford.
Arsenal remain confident of securing the forward, working under the belief that the transfer dynamic will tilt in their favour as the deadline approaches.
The Gunners possess a strong negotiating advantage as Atletico manager Diego Simeone is interested in both Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus, making a player-plus-cash trade a viable option.
Alvarez's stance on a potential move to Arsenal has softened following assurances that he would be deployed in his favoured central role as the centerpiece of their attack.