Arteta Plans Madrid Summit with Alvarez as Arsenal Step Up €100m Striker Pursuit

Arsenal are shifting into a higher gear in their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, with Mikel Arteta instructing the club to accelerate negotiations for the Atletico Madrid striker this month.

The north London side have already held preliminary talks through intermediaries about bringing the 26-year-old Argentine back to the Premier League, where he previously plied his trade at Manchester City. Alvarez, it appears, is receptive to the idea of returning to English football.

Arteta has identified the former City forward as his primary target for the summer window, and the pair have already had telephone conversations to discuss the prospect. Now, the Arsenal boss is plotting something more substantial: a proper sit-down meeting in Spain during the international break.

That gathering is scheduled to take place in Madrid in a fortnight, timed to coincide with the Finalissima between Spain and Argentina on March 27 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Arteta will use his days off to travel and meet with Alvarez in person.

The financial hurdle appears manageable. Atletico are expected to demand €100million for their prized asset, a sum Arsenal possess the resources to meet without strain.

Worth noting is that Viktor Gyokeres, signed from Sporting CP for €73million last summer, has managed just 10 goals in 28 Premier League outings this season. While hardly a catastrophe, his return has hardly justified the investment, leaving Arteta keen to bolster his attacking options despite the Swede's presence.

Alvarez has been a productive performer since joining Atletico in 2024, accumulating 46 goals and 15 assists across 98 appearances in all competitions. The prospect of reuniting him with Premier League football appears to be a project very much in motion, with the Arsenal manager determined to make it happen.