Arsenal's Pursuit of Julián Álvarez: Transfer Updates
Arsenal’s ruthless win over Coventry did not cool the transfer noise around the Emirates. If anything, it turned the volume up.
Mikel Arteta has a team that looks ready to challenge again. He also has a board, a fanbase and a set of pundits demanding one more big step.
Right now, that step has a name: Julián Álvarez.
Álvarez dream, Barça problem
Behind the scenes, Arsenal are still pushing hard for Atlético Madrid’s striker. David Ornstein has made it clear: the Gunners want to upgrade their frontline and Álvarez is the dream signing.
There is a catch. The Argentine wants Barcelona.
Atlético have opened the door to a sale, and would far rather send him to the Premier League than strengthen a direct rival in LaLiga. Meetings with Arsenal have taken place, conditions have been discussed, and Diego Simeone still insists publicly that Álvarez remains central to their plans.
“Julián Álvarez will be in the squad tomorrow,” Simeone said. “For me, Julián is an extremely important player for us to achieve our objectives. As long as he’s with the team, I’m going to look after him.”
The message from the player, though, has not changed: Barcelona or nothing. Arsenal are waiting to see if Barça can actually afford to move. If they cannot, the door to North London might finally open.
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville did not hide what that would mean for Arsenal.
“If Arsenal get Álvarez it would light this place up,” he said. “They would then have a world-class striker and they could not only win the Premier League again, but go that extra step and win the Champions League as well.”
Atlético’s pursuit of Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea could also play into Arsenal’s hands. If the Spanish club land Jackson on loan, Álvarez’s exit route becomes more realistic – and if Barcelona look elsewhere, Arsenal’s patience could be rewarded.
Havertz complicates the striker hunt
While Arsenal chase Álvarez, Kai Havertz is making his own argument.
The German scored in the Community Shield against Manchester City and again in the 3-0 win over Coventry, adding to the Champions League final goal he hit against PSG in May. Big games, big moments, the same theme.
He shared duties with Viktor Gyokeres last season but now looks ready to lead the line again and stake a serious claim to be first choice. Inside the club, there is a growing sense that he might already be the answer to their goalscoring problem.
Neville still believes a different profile could unlock even more from Martin Odegaard.
“If Arsenal had an Ian Wright up front, Odegaard would be even better because Havertz and Gyokeres want to come to the play rather than run in behind,” he said. “If Arsenal were to get an Álvarez, I think he (Odegaard) would go up a level.”
For now, Havertz is doing everything he can to prove that level can be reached without a blockbuster centre-forward signing.
Yildiz pursuit hits Juventus wall
Kenan Yildiz sits high on Arsenal’s attacking shortlist, but that door is firmly shut for now.
“Arsenal like Kenan Yildiz, but the doors are closed from Juventus,” Ornstein said on TNT Sport.
The Independent reported that the 21-year-old has re-emerged as a top target after Vinicius Jr signed a new contract at Real Madrid. Yildiz scored 11 goals across all competitions last season and can operate across the front line. Juventus have set his price at around €70m.
Arsenal are weighing up whether that fee makes sense. One potential route would be a swap involving Gabriel Martinelli, with reports suggesting the Brazilian could head to Turin as part of a deal.
That idea would solve two issues at once. It would also rip open a raw wound.
Martinelli on the outside, and under scrutiny
Martinelli’s situation is becoming one of the most uncomfortable stories of Arsenal’s summer.
He has already turned down Galatasaray, but remains on the market after a poor season. Inter Milan, Roma, Atlético Madrid and Juventus are all tracking the 24-year-old, with Arsenal believed to be holding out for around €60m.
He was left out of the squad entirely for the win over Coventry. That snub did not go unnoticed.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright admitted he is “uncomfortable” with how the winger is being handled.
“In respect of Martinelli and the way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable,” Wright told Sky Sports. “The way he’s been treated at the end here. I know they might want him out and people might say, ‘yeah, it’s time to move him on’.
“There’s ways to do that. It should suit him as well, how he wants to leave. Not being involved in the squad, not being spoken to, doesn’t know what’s going on. I know this, I know this.”
On pundit duty, Jamie Carragher called Christos Tzolis “an upgrade” on both Trossard and Martinelli. Neville pushed back, saying he “really likes Martinelli”. Wright, again, sided with the Brazilian.
“If you bring Tzolis in and he’s looking at Tzolis, you’re thinking to yourself ‘I still have something to offer,’” Wright said. “I feel a bit sad for him. He’s done a lot in this squad to be treated more. I hope it all works out right for Martinelli.”
Arsenal may yet use him as a makeweight in a major deal. For now, he is stuck in limbo.
Tzolis hits the ground running
Tzolis, meanwhile, is wasting no time.
Signed from Club Brugge for £34m, the 24-year-old delivered two assists in the Community Shield win over Manchester City and shone again against Coventry. When Sky Sports picked their Player of the Match, the debate came down to a “toss up” between Odegaard and Tzolis, with the captain edging it.
The Greek winger replaces Leandro Trossard, who has joined Besiktas after playing a crucial role under Arteta, including the winner at West Ham last season. Swapping a 31-year-old for a 24-year-old who already looks like a constant threat on the left feels like smart, ruthless squad evolution.
Konsa arrives, White under the spotlight
Defensively, Arsenal have already made their big move.
Ezri Konsa has joined from Aston Villa in a deal worth around £51m, with another £4m in add-ons. With William Saliba injured, the England international immediately strengthens an area that has been pushed to its limits.
Sporting director Andrea Betra did not hold back in his praise.
“We’re delighted to have completed the signing of Ezri Konsa,” he said. “Ezri is a defender of high quality, whose athleticism, composure and tactical intelligence have established him as one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers.
“Being comfortable in both central defence and at right-back, Ezri will bring valuable versatility to our squad while maintaining the high defensive standards which are fundamental to our challenge of winning major trophies.
“We are welcoming a player with proven Premier League and international experience, and strong leadership qualities, who will adapt seamlessly to our style of play. Just as importantly, we are welcoming a player with the character and mentality to make an immediate impact within our club. We welcome Ezri and his family to Arsenal.”
The signing has immediate knock-on effects. With Konsa able to cover right-back and Jurrien Timber already in place, Ben White’s future is under real scrutiny.
Everton admire the 28-year-old and are exploring a move. White registered his first assist of the season against Coventry, but Arteta has struggled to fully trust him in recent months. A sale would free up funds for late-window reinforcements.
“We are trying to improve the team, but it depends on some players leaving and the amount of money available to us after that,” Arteta said before the Premier League opener. “So far, I am very happy.”
Arteta leans into experience
Arsenal’s window has not just been about youth and potential. Arteta has deliberately added players at their peak.
Bruno Guimaraes and Konsa, both 28, bring proven Premier League quality and leadership. Guimaraes captained Newcastle to an EFL Cup triumph, the club’s first trophy in 56 years. Konsa was a key part of England’s World Cup campaign and Aston Villa’s Europa League success, ending a 30-year wait for European silverware.
“Because we look at the squad as a whole, we have a young defensive line,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “In midfield, we already have the next generation with Ethan and Max.
“At 28 they are in their prime and I think they are going to give amazing things to our squad.”
He has no interest in weakening that core. When asked about Martin Zubimendi’s future amid links to Chelsea and Real Madrid, Arteta was blunt.
“No, he’s a really important player,” he said. “Without a doubt, he was one of the best players for Arsenal last season. Without him, we would never have got into the position that we got into in the last few weeks.”
Zubimendi has slipped down the pecking order after Guimaraes’ arrival and the rise of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, but Arsenal are not planning to cash in.
Youth, exits and a wonderkid on the way
Some of the early summer predictions around Arsenal’s outgoings already look outdated.
A CBS Sports report in May suggested as many as eight players could leave: White, Gabriel Jesus, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz, Odegaard and Cristhian Mosquera were all named.
Since then, Havertz and Odegaard have both scored against Coventry, with the captain taking Player of the Match. Mosquera, signed from Valencia last summer, impressed alongside Gabriel in Saliba’s absence. Trossard has gone, but the idea of Havertz or Odegaard leaving now feels fanciful.
Martinelli and Jesus continue to attract interest from Serie A, while Nwaneri could seek more minutes after a loan spell at Marseille, possibly through another temporary move.
One arrival is already effectively done. Arsenal have finally reached an agreement with Blackburn Rovers for 18-year-old striker Igor Tyjon, long admired in North London. He has played for Blackburn’s Under-21s, England’s Under-17s and made his senior debut in the EFL Cup last season.
Rovers will receive £1.2m up front, £2m in add-ons and retain a 20% sell-on clause, having turned down close to £5m last summer.
Partey moves on, Arsenal look up
Away from the Emirates, a familiar face has found a new home. Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has joined Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia after a spell at Villarreal.
Partey made 167 appearances for the Gunners after signing from Atlético Madrid in 2020 and became a key figure under Arteta. Now 31, he takes his Premier League and European experience to the Saudi Pro League.
Arsenal, meanwhile, stand at a crossroads that feels strangely familiar. A strong, balanced squad. A manager who knows exactly what he wants. A fanbase that can see the title and the Champions League within reach.
They have added Guimaraes, Konsa, Tzolis and soon Tyjon. They are circling Álvarez and Yildiz. They are wrestling with the futures of Martinelli, White and Jesus.
One more decisive move could define their season.
Will it be the ruthless sale that funds a superstar, or the faith in what they already have that finally delivers everything they have been chasing?
