Arsenal's Pursuit of Julian Alvarez Takes a New Turn
Arsenal’s week has lurched from deflation to intrigue. A flat Champions League stalemate, a bruising defeat at Manchester City, and now a sharp reminder of how brutal the transfer market can be.
While Mikel Arteta tries to keep his players focused on a title and European push, the club’s hierarchy are already deep in summer planning. Sporting director Andrea Berta, who oversaw a flurry of eight arrivals last year, is again at the heart of it.
This time, one of his former signings is centre stage.
Alvarez leans toward Barcelona
Julian Alvarez, heavily admired at Arsenal, is edging away from north London. Reports in Spain claim the Atletico Madrid striker would prefer a move to Barcelona over a switch back to England.
That is a blow to Berta’s hopes. He was the man who took Alvarez to Atletico from Manchester City in August 2024, and Arsenal’s interest has been no secret. The Argentine has justified the fuss. Nineteen goals in all competitions, a £100 million valuation, and a growing reputation as one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards.
Those performances have drawn a wider crowd. Barcelona and PSG are both in the hunt, and, according to Mundo Deportivo, the 26-year-old’s priority is a move to La Liga’s biggest stage rather than a Premier League return.
Atletico, for their part, are not standing still. The same outlet previously reported that the club are now prepared to meet Alvarez’s demands after some initial hesitation, putting a new offer on the table worth around €10 million (£8m) a year, up from his current €7m (£6m). The message from the Metropolitano has been clear: they believe they can convince him to stay long term.
All this unfolds with a delicious twist in the calendar. Alvarez will face Arsenal later this month in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. The striker Berta once signed, the striker Arsenal now covet, could yet be the one to damage their European dream.
Salmon commits to boyhood club
While Arsenal wrestle with the realities of the elite transfer market, one decision has gone exactly their way.
Marli Salmon has signed a pre-contract agreement that will see him turn professional with the club when he turns 17. The central defender, a highly rated academy product, has already had a taste of senior football. He made his first-team debut off the bench in the Champions League win over Club Brugge in December and has since appeared three times in the FA Cup.
The Premier League bow has not arrived yet, but inside the club there is no doubt about how highly Arteta rates him. Salmon captains the Under-21s, a responsibility that underlines his standing and leadership potential.
Speaking to the club’s official channels, Salmon called it “a very big moment” for himself and his family, underlining his long association with Arsenal since joining the academy at nine and his desire to “give everything to the club.” A boyhood fan, now locked in for the next stage of his career.
In a week dominated by talk of nine-figure transfer fees and superstar strikers, Arsenal have at least secured one future. The question now is whether they can still persuade another to join them—or whether Julian Alvarez will be the one that got away.
