Arsenal have made a blistering start to the Premier League season, winning all three of their opening fixtures and establishing themselves as firm title favourites once again.
Despite the perfect record, manager Mikel Arteta has consistently chosen Kai Havertz over Viktor Gyokeres as his preferred striker across all three league matches so far.
The decision has raised serious questions about Gyokeres’ long-term future at the club, with the Swedish forward yet to nail down a regular starting berth since his arrival.
According to Fichajes, Arsenal are now actively planning a major January move to address their striking options by signing Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.
The Gunners are reportedly preparing a £103 million bid for the Argentine, with the club keen to strengthen their attacking options before the end of the winter window.
A potential swap deal has also emerged as an attractive option, with Arsenal previously willing to include Gyokeres in any arrangement to reduce the overall cost of signing Alvarez.
Whether Diego Simeone would be open to accepting Gyokeres as part of a mid-season deal remains unclear, particularly given the drawn-out nature of the saga surrounding Alvarez’s future throughout the summer.
Reporter Ben Jacobs has noted that Gyokeres’ exit was discussed internally during the summer transfer window, and with little changing since, the forward may well reassess his situation if he remains on the bench come January.
Alvarez’s previous experience in England, where he won the Premier League title with Manchester City, has reportedly made him an even more appealing target for the Gunners as they chase domestic glory.
The Argentine has proven himself to be a hardworking, intelligent striker capable of creating and scoring goals at the highest level, traits that make him an ideal fit for Arteta’s system.
However, a potential stumbling block remains, with reports indicating that Alvarez holds ambitions of one day joining Barcelona, which could complicate Arsenal’s pursuit.
Arsenal will be hoping their combination of financial muscle and the lure of a title challenge is enough to convince Alvarez to choose the Emirates Stadium over waiting for his supposed dream move.