Arsenal Plot Fresh £93m Swoop for Julian Alvarez in January

Arsenal line up fresh January move for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez

Arsenal are plotting a fresh swoop to sign Atletico Madrid centre-forward Julian Alvarez in January, according to TEAMtalk. The Gunners failed with a summer approach for the 26-year-old and are now preparing a new offer, with Viktor Gyokeres, Ethan Nwaneri and Noni Madueke discussed in talks.

Player: Julian Alvarez, 26, Atletico Madrid centre-forward
Valuation: £93m by Transfermarkt; Arsenal willing to bid in excess of £100m
Stage: Reports of a fresh January swoop, following a failed summer attempt
Rivals: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich also interested
Why now: Viktor Gyokeres has struggled this season and is yet to score in the current campaign
Current attack: Kai Havertz flanked by Christos Tzolis and Bukayo Saka

Deal details

Arsenal are preparing to launch a fresh swoop for Alvarez in January, per TEAMtalk. The Gunners had already failed in an initial attempt to sign him in the summer, but the North London club are now ready to return to the table for the Argentina international.

The report states the Premier League champions were willing to submit an offer in excess of £100m to get the deal done. During direct talks, Gyokeres, Ethan Nwaneri and Noni Madueke were also brought up as part of the package to bring Alvarez to the Emirates Stadium.

Alvarez is valued at £93m by Transfermarkt. He has remained professional but is reportedly unhappy in the Spanish capital, and his future is in doubt. That has created optimism within Arsenal that he would seriously consider a move to the Emirates.

Barcelona were interested in Alvarez but have now included other options, including Erling Haaland, among their targets. TEAMtalk add that this makes Arsenal the preferred alternative in the race for his signature. However, Arsenal will need to act swiftly in discussions to avoid being trumped by other clubs, with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich also interested in signing the Argentina international.

Why Arsenal are targeting Julian Alvarez

Arsenal ended the summer window with Christos Tzolis as their only attacking addition. While the Greek international has impressed, the team's whole attacking output is the lowest among their top four counterparts — a clear indication that they still need to bolster their attack. Mikel Arteta's preferred outlet up top so far this season has been Kai Havertz, flanked by Tzolis and Bukayo Saka.

Viktor Gyokeres finished last season as Arsenal's highest scorer but has struggled this season and is yet to score in the ongoing campaign. That drop-off has led the club to assess potential centre-forward options in the market, with Alvarez emerging as the priority target. Bringing him in would hand Arteta a dynamic, natural centre-forward who can create, link up play, hold up play and score whenever called upon.

With Gyokeres being offered to Atletico in talks, the key question is whether Atletico would be open to acquiring the Swede, demand more cash, or insist on retaining him in the Spanish capital. If the La Liga club accept the part-exchange element, Arsenal could structure a deal that keeps the net cash outlay closer to the £93m Transfermarkt valuation rather than the reported £100m-plus offer. If Atletico insist on a straight cash deal, Arsenal may need to sell before they can buy, which is where the inclusion of Nwaneri and Madueke becomes significant.

What was said

No direct quotes were included in the source report. The information is attributed to TEAMtalk, who state that Alvarez has remained professional despite being unhappy at the Spanish capital, and that his future is in doubt. The report adds that Arsenal are optimistic he would seriously consider a move to the Emirates Stadium.

The numbers

£93m: Julian Alvarez's valuation by Transfermarkt
£100m+: The offer Arsenal were willing to submit to sign him
26: Alvarez's age
0: Viktor Gyokeres's goal tally so far this season
Lowest: Arsenal's attacking output among their top four counterparts

Talking points

Should Arsenal include Ethan Nwaneri in a part-exchange for Alvarez, or is that a short-term fix that damages their long-term homegrown core?
Is £100m-plus for a player valued at £93m good business, or are Arsenal bidding against themselves after failing in the summer?
With PSG, Bayern and Barcelona all circling, does a January deal give Arsenal the edge, or does it hand Atletico a bidding war?
If Gyokeres joins Atletico as part of the package, does that solve Arsenal's centre-forward issue or just shift the problem to a different shirt?

What happens next

The January transfer window opens in a matter of weeks, and Arsenal will need to move quickly. Their immediate focus is on maintaining momentum in the Premier League title race, but behind the scenes the recruitment team is working on a deal structure that could include Gyokeres, Nwaneri and Madueke. Atletico Madrid's response to the part-exchange proposal will determine whether this remains a serious negotiation or another failed attempt. With PSG and Bayern interested, Arsenal cannot afford to wait until deadline day.

Frequently asked questions

Is Julian Alvarez moving to Arsenal in January?

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal are plotting a fresh swoop to sign Julian Alvarez in January, but no deal has been agreed and they face competition from PSG, Bayern Munich and others.

How much would Arsenal pay for Julian Alvarez?

The report states Arsenal were willing to submit an offer in excess of £100m, while Alvarez is valued at £93m by Transfermarkt.

Who else could be involved in the Julian Alvarez deal?

Viktor Gyokeres, Ethan Nwaneri and Noni Madueke were brought up during direct talks as part of the package to bring Alvarez to the Emirates, according to the report.