By OkayGoal 
Arsenal are reportedly plotting an ambitious move to sign Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez this summer, with Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus potentially used as bargaining chips in a complex transfer deal.
Gunners Prepare Major Attacking Reshuffle
According to Teamtalk, the North London club are willing to offer both Brazilian forwards as makeweights to reduce Atletico’s hefty £104 million asking price for the Argentine World Cup winner.
Despite recruiting Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon last summer for their striking department, Arsenal’s attacking output has been inconsistent throughout the 2025-26 campaign. The Swedish forward has managed 10 goals across all competitions, but manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly seeking additional firepower to sustain the Gunners’ title challenge.
The timing is intriguing. Arsenal have lacked a consistent goal contributor this season, with Leandro Trossard’s early-season brilliance fading and Bukayo Saka struggling to hit his usual Premier League standards. While Gyokeres has netted three times in 2026, showing glimpses of his Sporting form, Arteta appears unconvinced he has enough quality upfront.
Why Alvarez Fits Arsenal’s System Perfectly
The 26-year-old Argentine represents an ideal solution for Arsenal’s tactical setup. Last season at Atletico, Alvarez was sensational, registering 29 goals and 8 assists across 57 appearances after his £64 million switch from Manchester City in summer 2024.
Although his numbers have dipped slightly this campaign—11 goals and 5 assists from 30 matches—Alvarez offers something Gyokeres doesn’t: exceptional playmaking ability. Averaging nearly 22 successful passes per game and frequently dropping into attacking midfield, the World Cup winner’s positioning traits align perfectly with Arteta’s fluid system.
The Transfer Challenge Ahead
However, securing Alvarez won’t be straightforward. Diego Simeone’s side hold all the cards with the striker contracted until 2029, meaning Atletico can afford to play hardball in negotiations. Whether including Martinelli and Jesus as sweeteners will tempt the Spanish giants remains to be seen, but Arsenal may need to dig deeper financially to land their man.