Julian Alvarez. Photo: Getty Images
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will turn his attention to Deadline Day after Arsenal’s tight 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the Premier League on Tuesday AEST.
Reports in Spain suggest Julio Alvarez remains in limbo – not allowed to move to Barcelona but unwilling to move his family from Spain as Atletico Madrid dig their heels in. He reportedly has returned to the core group after training alone while his teammates won at Sevilla 3-1.
One striker definitely joining Barcelona is Gabriel Jesus, the Premier League winning striker arriving in Spain in a $AUD 16 million move.
Arteta said: “I said, we are trying to improve the squad, and until tomorrow night we’re going to try to do that.
“I’ve been disconnected from the world for 24 hours because I think my energy and focus has to be on the match.
“I will get back on it now.
“We know that the depth has to be really big when you are fighting for four competitions in the manner that we play as well.
“So we’re going to try to do that.”
Mikel Arteta. Photo: Getty Images
Barcelona, meanwhile, have not given up on Alvarez, with their president Joan Laporte insisting they still want the Argentinian.
“We’re keeping our hopes up and sticking to our plan — with all due respect to Atletico — of trying to sign him,” he told ESPN.
“We would like to reach an agreement with Atletico; we are therefore standing by our proposal, our offer to Atletico, and hopefully there will be an understanding between the two clubs.”
Speaking on the weekend, Atletico boss Simeone said: “It’s a personal process.
“We’re here to help him in a sporting sense and for him to help us, because he’s an extraordinary player.”
However, English speaking La Liga expert Phil Kitromilides said on a segment on CBS Sport in the USA just how badly the situation had deteriorated in the Spanish capital: “What I’m hearing is that the dressing room is very, very disappointed with him.
“And what I’ve been told by someone who knows the situation is that Diego Simeone can’t even look at him. Like, Diego Simeone is furious, absolutely furious with Julian Alvarez. And rightly so.”
Another more realistic name linked with the Gunners by Sky Sports is 21-year-old Lyon winger Malick Fofana, the Belgian a possible $64m option after Gabriel Martinelli’s departure to Al Hilal, with Christos Tzolis the sole attacking addition to a squad that has seen Jesus, Martinelli and Leandro Trossard exit.
He has 19 goals and eight assists in 84 for the Ligue 1 club and has become their most valuable asset at a time they could do with the financial windfall. The BBC reports that Arsenal officials, however, are not in unanimous agreement over the signing.
Malick Fofana. Photo: Getty Images
Matias Fernandez-Pardo, as reported by football360.com.au last week, remains a possibility.
In the outbound column, Borussia Dortmund are reportedly nearing a loan move for 19-year-old attacker Ethan Nwaneri.