Arsenal target Julian Alvarez is being pursued by Premier League clubs, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
There has been speculation in Spain that both the Gunners and Liverpool are keen on bringing the former Manchester City player back to England and, writing in his GiveMeSport newsletter, Romano said that, while there are teams who want to sign, his current club are not looking to sell:
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“Atletico Madrid absolutely want to keep Julian. There’s interest from Premier League, it’s true for sure but Atleti insist on keeping him.”
Alvarez was signed for £81.5m last summer, and he has gone on to score 29 goals in all competitions this season, so you can understand their reluctance to let him leave.
Atletico have publicly issued a ‘hands off’ warning
Speaking last week, the La Liga side’s president, Enrique Cerezo, made it clear in no uncertain terms that the forward would not be leaving the Riyadh Air Metropolitano:
“Julian Alvarez is a player of Atletico de Madrid, he’s very happy here, he is our player and he will remain our player. He was raised at Atletico de Madrid and he will die at Atletico de Madrid.”
The Argentinian international is also reportedly not interested in returning to the UK so that would be another potential stumbling block.
Are Arsenal looking at other strikers?
With a move for Alvarez looking unlikely, manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are set to explore deals for alternatives.
The two main candidates are believed to be Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko but there is said to be a split in the recruitment department as to which should be signed. With the summer transfer window set to open soon, the Gunners will need to decide in short order who they want to pursue.
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