Arsenal's Goretzka Bid Confirmed as Alvarez Chase Gets Bayern Boost

The Gunners did indeed make a concrete attempt to land Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka before the January transfer window slammed shut, according to Bayern insider Christian Falk.

Mikel Arteta's side had been on the hunt for midfield reinforcements following Merino's serious injury, with whispers of late-window moves for the likes of Sandro Tonali doing the rounds. But it's now been confirmed that Goretzka was the genuine target, with Arsenal tabling a formal offer to the German midfielder.

Falk, writing in his Bayern Insider column, revealed that while Goretzka found the prospect genuinely appealing, he'd already made his mind up to stay put through the winter window. The 30-year-old's integrity got the better of him—even an Arsenal approach couldn't shift his resolve to see out his final months at Bayern before departing on a free transfer come summer.

"It is TRUE: Arsenal made an offer for Leon Goretzka shortly before the transfer deadline," Falk wrote. "This was a very interesting option for the German, but at this point, he'd already decided he wouldn't move in the winter. When Atletico Madrid knocked at his door, he made an official statement on his Instagram account – as did Bayern Munich. It's not the way of Goretzka to break his word at the last minute – even for Arsenal!"

The midfielder harbours genuine enthusiasm about testing himself in the Premier League, believing his skill set would translate well to English football. Yet the timing worked against everyone involved, with the deadline-day scramble leaving insufficient room for a deal to materialise.

Goretzka's summer options remain plentiful. Atletico Madrid continue circling, whilst Italian clubs—Juventus, Milan, and Napoli among them—have all registered interest in acquiring his services.

Alvarez Route Clears

On a brighter note for Arsenal's recruitment plans, Bayern's reluctance to pursue Julian Alvarez presents a significant advantage in the race for the Atletico Madrid forward. The Austrian striker is thought keen on engineering a departure from the Spanish capital, yet Bayern—another heavyweight in the hunt—have effectively withdrawn from the contest.

Falk explained that Bayern's hierarchy simply aren't willing to wade into the Alvarez saga at present. Despite acknowledging his quality, the Munich outfit want a trouble-free transfer window and view the Atletico contract situation as a non-starter given Alvarez's deal runs until 2030.

"He's an interesting player, but when I spoke with some guys from Bayern, they said they didn't need these rumours at the moment – they wanted a quiet transfer window," Falk stated. "So they won't go for him at the moment. They'd love to have a player like him in the team, but with a contract until 2030, it's a no-go."

Bayern did previously explore the possibility of bringing in another striker back in 2023, around the time Harry Kane's arrival was being finalised, but circumstances have shifted. For now, Arsenal can breathe easier knowing one fewer rival is circling Alvarez's signature.