Arsenal line up blockbuster Viktor Gyokeres-plus-cash bid as they wait on Julian Alvarez’s Barcelona push

Arsenal are preparing an offer worth up to €100m plus Viktor Gyokeres for Julian Alvarez but will only move formally if the Atletico Madrid forward gives up on a transfer to Barcelona, according to reports in Spain and England.

The Premier League club have drawn up a clear plan centred on the Argentine striker’s long‐running desire to join Barcelona, with their move dependent on any breakdown in talks between the player and the Catalan side.

Spanish newspaper Sport, citing The Times, reports that Arsenal have already structured a bid for Alvarez, yet the entire operation rests on whether the 24‐year‐old is willing to leave Atletico Madrid in this window.

Player still focused on Barcelona

So far, attempts to persuade Alvarez to consider north London have fallen flat. Despite efforts from head coach Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta to sell him on the project at Emirates Stadium, Alvarez has shown no inclination to listen to Arsenal’s proposal and remains fixated on the prospect of wearing the Barcelona shirt.

Arsenal’s proposal is said to include Gyokeres, who joined the club last summer for €64m, plus an additional fee that could reach a total package of around €100m including fixed and variable payments.

That structure is viewed as potentially attractive to Atletico, in part because Gyokeres is highly rated by head coach Diego Simeone, who is believed to be an admirer of the Sweden international’s profile and work rate.

Arsenal waiting for ‘green light’

At this stage, Arsenal have decided not to open formal negotiations with Atletico Madrid. The club are waiting for a clear signal from Alvarez’s camp that he is ready to consider a move away from the Spanish capital and is open to the Emirates option.

That green light does not appear imminent. The report states that Alvarez’s focus remains “entirely” on trying to engineer a move to Barcelona, and that he has not shifted from his preference for a transfer to the La Liga club.

Atletico recall Alvarez for pre-season

Atletico Madrid, for their part, have summoned Alvarez to begin pre‐season training with the rest of the squad on 10 August as they step up preparations for the new campaign.

There is currently no indication that Alvarez intends to refuse to return or to skip training sessions in an attempt to force through a transfer, and no signs so far of any formal stand‐off between player and club.

However, the forward is planning to sit down with Atletico officials in the coming period to reopen discussions over a possible move to Barcelona. That meeting is expected to focus on whether the Spanish club will soften their stance and allow renewed negotiations over a deal with the Camp Nou side.

Until there is clarity on those talks, Arsenal’s high‐value, player‐plus‐cash offer is set to remain on standby, with the north London club monitoring developments and waiting to see whether Alvarez’s Barcelona ambitions collapse sufficiently for them to enter the race.