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27 August 2026

Arsenal could yet make a major late move for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez before the transfer deadline.

Mikel Arteta has said his forwards should come directly to him if they have any worries about Arsenal’s transfer activity.

The Gunners are still keeping a close watch on Alvarez and remain strongly interested in the attacker, although there is still little certainty over his situation with only five days left in the summer transfer window.

Alvarez wants to join Barcelona, but Atletico Madrid have issued a series of statements making it clear they will not sell him to their Spanish rivals.

That may still leave an opening for Arsenal. The club are prepared to make a major push for Alvarez, but only if they get enough encouragement from the player’s representatives.

Any such move would also be hugely expensive, with Atletico understood to be demanding a fee of around £130million.

There have also been suggestions that Viktor Gyokeres could be included in any deal for Alvarez, while Gabriel Jesus is available to leave Arsenal in the closing stages of the window.

With speculation continuing to grow, Arteta has told his squad to approach him if they want clarity over transfer plans.

Transfer target: Arsenal could move for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez before the deadline.

“Whatever you read, if you have a question, come and knock on my door, and I will tell you whether it is true or not,” the Arsenal manager said.

“Because if they read it and we put the catalogue on the walls about all the players that we wanted in the last three months, I think we would need the whole building.

“So I think they know that there’s so much speculation with a lot of players. If ever they feel the doubt of what we think of them and if we’re going to recruit a player, I tell them straight away.”

When asked whether any player had approached him so far this summer, Arteta said: “No. Normally I do it.

“So if we’re going to sign somebody in their position, I normally tell them. These are the plans and these are the reasons why we have the plans. We still believe the same in you, but the competition is going to increase. I prefer to do it that way.”

Alvarez has missed Atletico training over the last two days because of a stomach bug.

It is still not known whether he will feature for Diego Simeone’s side against Sevilla in LaLiga this weekend, after being booed by his own supporters when he came on in their previous match.

There have also been reports in Spain saying Arteta tried to call Alvarez in recent days, but the forward chose not to speak to him.

“You know I’m not going to make any comments about what is said publicly,” Arteta said in response. “If so I would be having a different job.”

Arsenal are still hopeful that an opening may appear before Tuesday night’s deadline, even though Alvarez continues to indicate that Barcelona is his preferred destination.

During his time at Arsenal, Arteta has repeatedly said that he only wants to sign players who are fully determined to join the club.

When asked if that position could ever change in the pursuit of one of the world’s best players, Arteta outlined how he presents the club to potential signings.

“Convincing, I don’t know if it’s the word,” Arteta said.

“But obviously explaining what we are, what we are doing, how we expect a player to fit in within our club and our way of playing, his role in the team. That’s certainly the case.

“And those players, normally, they don’t come by themselves. They come with a team, whether it’s a family, with people that work with them. So I think that whole ecosystem of the player has to be understood.

“Everybody around them, as well, has to feel that it’s the right thing to do.”