Atletico Madrid have set a deadline for Arsenal to sign Julian Alvarez, while teenage defender Marli Salmon has signed his first professional contract with the Gunners.
Alvarez transfer deadline
According to Sky Sports, Atletico want Alvarez's future resolved on Sunday, leaving Arsenal with just hours to convince the 26-year-old to return to the Premier League. The La Liga side are demanding £128m for the Argentine and are only entertaining offers from abroad, having blocked his dream move to Barcelona.
Arsenal are currently the only realistic destination for Alvarez if he decides to leave the Spanish capital. The forward held a five-hour meeting with his inner circle earlier this week to decide whether to stay at Atletico and repair his relationship with the fans, who booed him last weekend, or to join Mikel Arteta's project.
However, transfer reporter David Ornstein told TNT Sports on Saturday that there was a low chance the player would opt for Arsenal. Ornstein added that Alvarez has shown no indication of wanting to join the Gunners until now, having spoken to Arteta and told the Spaniard he does not want the move.
Arsenal's transfer window so far
Despite the transfer not developing as hoped, Arsenal are relaxed about the increasing possibility of going into the new season without signing Alvarez. The Gunners have already spent around £200m on five new additions this summer under sporting director Andrea Berta.
Piero Hincapie's loan deal was made permanent for £34.5m, back-up goalkeeper Illan Meslier joined for free, winger Christos Tzolis arrived in a £34m deal, and Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa were signed for £75m and £55m, respectively.
Salmon signs professional contract
Marli Salmon has signed his first professional contract with Arsenal after spending seven years with the club. The centre-back, who turned 17 on Saturday, initially moved to Arsenal when he was in the Under-11s and played as a forward before making the transition to defence.
Salmon impressed Arteta last season and was involved in the first-team squad as the Gunners clinched the title. Speaking after his landmark moment, he said: "It means a lot to me. A lot of hard work went into this, a lot of ups and downs, but I'm so proud. I think it's a proud moment for my family as well, I think it's a reward for them as well, because they put so much time and effort into me. It's proof of their hard work as much as mine."
Reflecting on his switch from striker to defender, Salmon added: "I was an attacker in those days, so it was a bit different, but it was good. It sounds kind of cliched but it's a lot of ups and downs, a lot of tough times. Sometimes you really go through adversity, but it's built me to the person I am today, so I'm thankful for it."
