- 28 minutes ago
EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal willing to match Man City demands for Julian Alvarez
Steve Kay
- Updated: 5 Aug 2024 16:37 BST
- 4 min read
Exclusive
Arsenal are prepared to pay €82 million (£70m) to sign Julian Alvarez this summer, but Manchester City will not sanction a sale unless a replacement is lined up, FootballTransfers understands.
The Argentina international is eager to leave the Etihad Stadium and although Arsenal like the player, a deal will be extremely difficult as City want to avoid selling to a title rival, despite the Gunners' valuation likely to match one that the Premier League champions would be happy with.
In addition, we have been told that Pep Guardiola’s side have scheduled emergency talks with Alvarez’s agent this week as they look to resolve his future.
READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024 - All the Done Deals
Current ETV
Julián Álvarez
F, M (C)
Man City
Julián Álvarez
F, M (C)
Man City
ETV Range
€41.8M - €69.7M
The ex-River Plate forward made 54 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring 19 goals, but he is unsettled in England and has begun agitating for a summer exit.
Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid are both interested in the 24-year-old, while Arsenal are yet to enquire, despite their admiration for the player.
The Gunners currently have Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah as central striker options, although the latter has been heavily linked with a move away from the club.
EXCLUSIVE: Palace rekindle interest in Lacroix amid Guehi’s talks with Newcastle
Top target Benjamin Sesko signed a new contract with RB Leipzig earlier this summer and Arsenal are now monitoring Alvarez’s situation at Man City.
However, despite rumours of an imminent move, the Argentine is unlikely to leave Guardiola’s side before the end of the 2024 summer transfer window.
In fact, we have been informed that Man City are keen to keep Alvarez motivated until at least January, by which time the club hope to have identified a suitable replacement.
Nothing concrete regarding a possible replacement has surfaced yet, although Brentford’s Ivan Toney is one player who could become a target if Alvarez departs.
Julian Alvarez to leave Man City?
As previously reported by FootballTransfers, Man City are baffled by Alvarez's recent behaviour.
The 24-year-old is pushing to leave the club this summer and we are told that Man City agreed to let him join Argentina for the Paris Olympics in a bid to please the attacker.
However, Alvarez’s actions have left club chiefs at the Etihad seriously confused as they believe they have done everything possible to make him feel valued and important.
Brazilian winger Savinho is the only new signing to have joined Man City so far this summer, while Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Liam Delap, Sergio Gomez and Tommy Doyle have all been sold.
