Arsenal ‘done deal’ to sign Julian Alvarez? Spanish media make sensational claim

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Arsenal have an agreement in place to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, according to one stunning report from Spain.

Mikel Arteta’s side are seeking to boost their attacking options this summer and have their sights set on the Argentina forward.

Real Madrid have already made an official bid for Alvarez, though their €150 million approach was laughed off by their city rivals.

Current ETV

Julián Álvarez

F (C)

Atlético Madrid

Julián Álvarez

F (C)

Atlético Madrid

€113M

ETV Range

€101.7M - €124.3M

View full profile

Barcelona, too, are interested in signing the 26-year-old former Manchester City forward, but according to reports from the media, Arsenal have already struck an agreement to sign the player.

Jordi Jota claimed on El Chiringuito: “There was a call from Gil Marin to Barcelona president Joan Laporta last Sunday in which he repeats on several occasions that Julian Alvarez is not for sale.

“Now my question is, if it’s true that Julian is not for sale because Atletico Madrid have done a deal with Arsenal for the sale. There’s a totally closed agreement between Atletico Madrid for Alvarez.”

He then claimed that Arsenal will pay €50 million to sign Alvarez but will send Viktor Gyokeres to Spain in a part-exchange deal.

Julian Alvarez to Arsenal: What’s the truth?

While Atletico Madrid are reluctant to do any business with either Real Madrid or Barcelona, it’s unlikely that a deal would be struck for Julian Alvarez at the type of price being discussed.

Diego Simeone’s side have already knocked back an offer for knocked back an offer for €150m for the forward, and this offer would come up short of that figure.

Gyokeres’ Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €67.5m in combination with their €50m up-front fee comes to only €117.5m – well short of the type of fee demanded for Alvarez.

On top of that, there are logistical issues to this type of transfer. Any deal would ride on both Alvarez and Gyokeres agreeing personal terms with the respective clubs, making a move tough to negotiate as so many more parties need to reach agreements.

Indeed, doubt was cast on the move by Jota’s colleague Alex Silvestre on the same program, who said: “At Arsenal, they tell me: 'For us, it's not an option, we're no longer interested. And what his agent tells us is that if he leaves, he'll only go to Barca.”

Alvarez, meanwhile, is concentrating on his World Cup campaign with Argentina for the moment.

It got off to a successful start for the defending champions as Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria.

The Atletico Madrid striker came on as a second-half substitute, having not started the game due to a recent left ankle sprain.