21 goals in all competitions last season is not enough to hold on to Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres when the goal is to win the Champions League and assert themselves against their main rivals out in Europe! – Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Barcelona look extremely strong this season as well.
Mikel Arteta has set his sights on the striker of his dreams. Arsenal are reportedly willing to sacrifice their own striker to hijack Julian Alvarez before the window closes.
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It’s no secret that Arsenal have been looking for a world-class striker all summer. Arteta believes the elite scorer is the missing piece to take the team all the way to the top – both in the Premier League and Champions League.
And now they may have found the man: Julian Alvarez.
The exchange offer that can change everything
The problem? The Argentine has so far had his eyes fixed on Barcelona. But the Catalans’ financial room for manoeuvre is limited, and that opens the door wide for Arsenal.
According to Spanish Diario Sport , the north London club have put a bold swap proposal on the table: Viktor Gyokeres plus £68.5 million – against Alvarez.
Gyokeres joined Arsenal from Sporting for £55m last summer, but has never quite seized the chance. The 28-year-old never started regularly in the 2025/26 season, and Kai Havertz was preferred to him in the league opener against Coventry.
Now the Swede could be on his way out – just one season after the purchase.
Double salary and turned head
Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that talks are ongoing between the parties, and Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta – who knows Atletico Madrid well from his time at the club – is keeping in close contact with old colleagues.
According to the report, Alvarez’s head is already turned towards the Emirates Stadium. And in terms of salary, there are no obstacles – the 25-year-old is expected to double his salary if the transfer becomes a reality.
Atletico are reportedly reluctant to sell to Barcelona, but are open to a deal with Arsenal.
Neville: “Then they win everything”
After Arsenal’s impressive 3-0 win over Coventry on Friday night, where captain Martin Ødegaard scored the 3rd goal and was named Man of the Match, Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville vented his excitement about what Alvarez could mean for the Gunners:
“We have heard that Alvarez wants to go to Barcelona, but if Arsenal get hold of him, then it will light up at the Emirates. Then you have a world-class striker in addition to all the other world-class players in defense and midfield.
“Then they won’t just be Premier League champions. Then you think that they can take the extra step and win the Champions League as well.
Neville points to the little extra – the magic that decides even matches:
“He needs that little magic in front of goal. The one that makes when you don’t play well, you still win. Does he have enough of it? I’m not entirely sure about that.
Ready for Aston Villa
Arsenal are back in action on August 31, when they travel to Aston Villa – Ezri Konsa’s old club – in the Premier League.
The question is whether Alvarez can be in place already then. The transfer window closes on September 1, and the hours count.
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