Arsenal are reportedly preparing a formal offer for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, as the Gunners look to capitalise on the chaos surrounding his future.
Julian Alvarez has become one of the most talked-about players in European football this summer, with multiple clubs circling the Argentine forward.
Barcelona have been heavily linked with Alvarez and are said to have agreed personal terms with the player after he requested to leave Atletico Madrid before next season.
Atletico responded by filing a formal complaint against Barcelona to FIFA, making clear they have no intention of letting the 26-year-old walk away easily.
The dispute between Atletico and Barcelona appears to have opened a window for Arsenal, who are now moving to take advantage of the situation.
According to Football London, Arsenal are lining up a formal offer worth £60 million in cash, which would also include Viktor Gyokeres heading to Madrid as part of the deal.
Alvarez is valued at £85 million on Transfermarkt, meaning the combined value of cash and player would represent a significant overall offer from the Gunners.
However, the swap component of the deal raises serious questions, with Gyokeres having endured a difficult debut season at the Emirates Stadium despite showing occasional flashes of quality.
Arsenal may prefer to give Gyokeres more time to prove himself rather than using him as a makeweight in a transfer, which complicates the feasibility of any swap arrangement.
Alvarez himself confirmed his desire to seek a new challenge following Argentina’s victory over Austria on Monday, adding further urgency to negotiations between all parties involved.
The player holds a £450 million release clause in his contract with Atletico, meaning any realistic transfer fee would need to be negotiated directly with the Spanish club.
Whether Gyokeres would even be willing to move to Atletico Madrid remains uncertain, particularly given the exciting project developing under Arsenal’s current setup at the Emirates.
For the Gunners to land Alvarez without complications, the cleanest route would likely involve meeting Atletico’s asking price without relying on a player-exchange element to the deal.