Arsenal remains keen on signing Julian Alvarez, the Atletico Madrid striker, despite the player’s preference for a move to Barcelona. According to Sky in Italy's Luca Bendoni, initial discussions have taken place between the clubs at ownership level, with communication lines still open.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta, who previously held the same position at Atletico Madrid, is actively involved. However, Atletico is reluctant to sell, and there is a significant gap in the clubs' valuations of the Argentina international.

While Alvarez favors a transfer to Barcelona, the Catalan club is unlikely to back down easily. President Joan Laporta confirmed that their initial bid of just over £100m stands, but sources indicate they might increase it to more than £110m (€130m) plus bonuses after the World Cup.

Despite this, Atletico’s relationship with Barcelona is strained, and they have publicly stated their refusal to sell Alvarez without a replacement. Laporta noted that Atletico's resistance stems from their lack of an identified successor.

After the World Cup, Alvarez is expected to go on holiday before returning to pre-season training with Atletico, where discussions about his future are anticipated. It is reported that Alvarez dreams of playing for Barcelona, which poses a challenge for Arsenal and PSG, who also have interest in the forward.

On the transfer front, Arsenal is also exploring options for a winger, particularly Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge, as a potential replacement for Leandro Trossard, who is set to join Besiktas for £17m. Arsenal’s admiration for Tzolis remains strong, although no formal contact has occurred yet.