Arsenal are reportedly prepared to spend £130million to sign Julian Alvarez, yet Mikel Arteta will demand assurances that the forward is genuinely committed to joining the Gunners before any deal proceeds.
The Atletico Madrid striker is keen to leave the Spanish club ahead of next week's deadline, having initially prioritised a move to Barcelona before their advances were firmly rejected. That has left Alvarez in a difficult position, with Atletico supporters turning on him during the weekend draw with Villarreal.
Arteta seeks commitment before pushing deal
Arsenal have emerged as the most likely contenders for Alvarez's signature, although considerable work remains to agree a deal before the transfer window closes. He previously made clear that he only wanted to join Barcelona, meaning Arteta is seeking assurances that he would genuinely want to play for Arsenal before advancing, according to The Mirror.
The move would also require the Gunners to balance their finances, with Gabriel Martinelli edging towards a £50m transfer to Saudi club Al-Hilal. That would represent a club-record sale for the newly-crowned Premier League champions.
Outgoings and alternative targets
Arsenal are also looking to offload Fabio Vieira, with Hamburg driving to complete a deal, while Napoli have shown interest in Gabriel Jesus but the primary obstacle has been the forward's salary. Jesus has wished to remain in England but recognises his opportunities at Arsenal will be restricted.
It remains to be seen if Arsenal would consider a swap deal for Alvarez that would see Viktor Gyokeres move the other way. Reports in Spain have suggested the Gunners could table a £55m bid with Gyokeres included as a makeweight to drive down Atletico's asking price.
Further transfer considerations
The prospect of signing Juventus star Kenan Yildiz appears increasingly unlikely given the winger requires knee surgery. Arsenal have already spent considerably this window on Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa, meaning it is plausible they could refrain from further activity even if Martinelli leaves.
Eberechi Eze remains an option to cover the left flank and Arsenal may choose to bide their time, but if the opportunity to land Alvarez arises and the player proves willing to make the switch, the north Londoners are thought to be receptive.
