Arsenal’s push for a blockbuster summer striker signing has hit its first major hurdle, with reports from Spain indicating top target Julian Alvarez would prefer a move to Barcelona over a return to the Premier League.
The Gunners, riding high at the summit of English football, are already plotting for the next window and have been strongly linked with a move for the Atlético Madrid and Argentina forward. With a price tag believed to be around £87m, the club are said to be “pushing hard” alongside rivals Chelsea for the 24 year old, who has bagged 40 goals in 88 appearances since leaving Manchester City.
However, according to Sport, Alvarez’s “preferred choice” would be the Camp Nou, despite Barcelona’s notorious financial constraints likely preventing them from meeting Atlético’s valuation. This leaves Arsenal facing the dual challenge of negotiating a huge fee and convincing the player that North London is a better destination than his preferred Catalan move, a significant complication in any potential deal.
The news comes as Mikel Arteta’s side continue their charge on multiple fronts, sitting six points clear in the league and with a Carabao Cup final booked for March. The manager’s quiet January window underlined faith in his current squad, though the long term need for a prolific, elite level centre forward remains clear.
In lighter news, the club’s only deadline day activity saw them secure two youngsters, including St Mirren’s Evan Mooney. The Scottish club’s manager, Stephen Robinson, quipped about his ambitious negotiations for the 18 year old winger.
“A terrific move for Evan,” Robinson said. “I was looking for Gabriel (Magalhães) in return because he is a first team player for us. I was hoping we would get Gabriel, but it didn’t quite materialise.”
The joke highlights the high esteem in which Arsenal’s defensive rock is held, even in rival boardrooms. While a swap for a teenager was never on the cards, it underscores just how crucial the Brazilian has become to Arteta’s project, a player they’ll be far less willing to part with than Atlético might be with Alvarez.
For now, Arsenal’s focus remains on the pitch, but the Alvarez saga shows that even at the top of the table, securing your top targets is never straightforward. Convincing a world class striker to choose the Emirates over Barcelona may be their toughest test yet.
