Arsenal have submitted an £85 million offer for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, with Viktor Gyokeres potentially included as part of the deal, according to reports from AS. The offer represents a significant investment from the North London club, and would make Alvarez their second most expensive signing after Declan Rice.
Alvarez joined Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in the summer of 2024 and has since scored 49 goals in 106 appearances for the Spanish side. However, the Argentine international recently expressed his desire to leave the club, stating he wants to “fulfil his dream” elsewhere. He reportedly held discussions with Atletico officials regarding a potential transfer.
Despite Alvarez’s wishes, Atletico’s chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin has publicly stated his desire to retain the player, even rejecting a previous offer of €100 million. He maintains that Alvarez is “the perfect striker” for Atletico Madrid and that the club has no intention of selling him this summer.
This potential move comes just over a year after Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP for a fee of nearly £64 million. While Gyokeres contributed 21 goals in all competitions last season and helped Arsenal win the Premier League title, his impact hasn’t entirely lived up to expectations. Offering him in exchange for Alvarez could be seen as an acknowledgement that the move hasn’t fully materialized as hoped.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is reportedly driving the pursuit of Alvarez, and the club are prepared to accept a financial loss on Gyokeres to secure the Argentine’s signature. While Alvarez has been linked with a move to Barcelona, Arsenal’s offer presents a compelling financial package for Atletico Madrid. The outcome of this transfer saga remains uncertain, but Arsenal appear determined to bolster their attacking options with one of Europe’s in-form forwards.
