JAKARTA - Arsenal is exploring the possibility of signing Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez this summer.
The Gunners' sporting director, Andrea Berta, has a strong relationship with the LaLiga club after spending 12 years working at Atletico Madrid before moving to north London in March 2025.
Berta is also the one who made Alvarez move to Atletico Madrid worth 95 million euros (around Rp1.8 trillion) from Manchester City in August 2024. According to ESPN reports, he maintains a close relationship with the player's agent, Fernando Hidalgo, and the Alvarez party.
In addition to Arsenal, Barcelona are very interested in Alvarez, but ongoing financial difficulties seem to complicate the potential of such a big deal.
Alvarez is expected to have a very large release clause, namely 50 million euros (around Rp993.3 billion) in his contract. However, Atletico Madrid seems to demand more than 100 million euros (about Rp1.9 trillion) this summer, if they are willing to sell him.
Alvarez has scored 40 goals in 85 games since joining Atletico Madrid and has a contract until 2030.
The exact nature of Arsenal's contact is unclear, but club officials have carried out informal inquiries to determine if a deal might have been in the offing before considering formalising their interest at a later date.
Arsenal considered Alvarez among a number of strikers - including Benjamin Sesko, who joined Manchester United from Red Bull Leipzig - before signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon last summer.
Gyokeres had a mixed start with the Gunners. The 27-year-old scored his sixth goal of the season in the Champions League victory against Inter Milan on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, early morning WIB.
However, he struggled to replicate the prolific form that saw him average almost a goal per game in Portugal during two seasons with Sporting.
He has appeared 27 times so far. The problem is, Gyokeres will face competition from Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazilian striker scored two goals against Inter Milan and expressed his desire to stay after his current contract expires in 2027.
However, Jesus confirmed that there have been no talks regarding an extension of the contract and Arsenal may be willing to listen to offers for the Brazilian at the end of the season.
Arsenal will soon have Kai Havertz back in full fitness as the Gunners continue to compete in four competitions. Midfielder Mikel Merino has operated as an impromptu striker on a number of occasions when the club's three strikers are unavailable.
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