Arsenal Negotiates Julian Alvarez Deal and Explores Viktor Gyokeres Swap

Arsenal’s Pursuit of Julian Alvarez

Arsenal has identified the 26-year-old Argentina international as their primary attacking target for the summer. According to The Independent, the club is eager to complete the deal before the start of the pre-season. While Alvarez has expressed an openness to the move, his initial preference was to remain in Spain with either Barcelona or Real Madrid.

However, Atletico Madrid remains firm in its refusal to sell to domestic rivals, a stance underscored by talkSPORT, which reports that the Spanish club has already rejected a bid from Barcelona and remains frustrated by a previous offer from Real Madrid. Atletico has pointed toward a release clause, signaling their reluctance to facilitate a move to a LaLiga competitor.

The Viktor Gyokeres Swap Proposal

In an effort to break the deadlock, Arsenal has explored the possibility of including Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres as a makeweight in the deal. While Atletico Madrid has shown interest in the player, the situation remains fluid. As talkSPORT reported, the club-to-club talks are still considered exploratory, and Arsenal has yet to finalize its own position on whether it is willing to part with the forward.

European football expert Andy Brassell believes the move would be a logical fit for the current Premier League champions. Arsenal have held a long-term interest, longer than Barcelona, so to see them back in the picture makes total sense, Brassell told talkSPORT. He further noted that Alvarez brings a specific profile the current Arsenal squad lacks, describing him as a player who can really lead a team.

Financial Hurdles and Squad Planning

Negotiations are complicated by a significant valuation gap. Arsenal has reportedly been reluctant to exceed a £90 million expenditure, whereas Atletico is holding out for a fee north of £100 million. The deal also features a unique dynamic, with Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta negotiating against his former club.

Arsenal’s transfer activity extends beyond the striker position. The club remains in talks for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and is actively working on a deal for Greek winger Christos Tzolis with Brugge. These efforts follow the confirmed £17 million departure of Leandro Trossard to Besiktas.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Stance on Lucas Bergvall

While Arsenal focuses on its attacking options, other north London transfer business is facing pushback. Former goalkeeper Kasey Keller has publicly urged Tottenham Hotspur to reject interest in 20-year-old Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall, following reports that Nottingham Forest is preparing a £45 million bid.

“I would love to see Spurs say no, say we’re building [to Lucas Bergvall]. I’ll use Michael Carrick as a prime example. Spurs signed Carrick, does really well for four or five months and then they triple their money and sell him to Man Utd.”

Kasey Keller, via Ozoon

Keller argued that Tottenham should focus on retaining talent rather than repeating past trends of selling players for profit at the expense of winning titles. For Arsenal, the focus remains on navigating the remaining weeks of the window to secure their primary targets as the 2026 season approaches.