Arsenal are refusing to give up on their pursuit of Julián Alvarez, 26, and the bigger question now is what Atletico Madrid decide he is worth. BBC Sport's gossip round-up says Alvarez is keen to move away from Atletico, which makes this less about whether the interest is real and more about whether a deal can be priced in a way both clubs can live with.
Alvarez's current role at Atletico
Alvarez has not looked like a player drifting through the winter window. He has 8 appearances at the 2026 World Cup, 631 minutes and a 6.66 rating, which is steady output for a forward who is still being talked about as a market target. Atletico finished 4th in La Liga in 2025, so they are not in a position where they have to sell at any price.
BBC Sport put it bluntly: "Arsenal are refusing to give up on their pursuit of Argentina forward Julian Alvarez, 26, who is keen to move away from Atletico Madrid." That is the real pull of the story, because a player with that level of involvement and a club that finished fourth are unlikely to meet in the middle cheaply.
What else is moving in the market
The same gossip round-up also says Manchester City have identified Iliman Ndiaye, 26, as a potential target, but Everton value the Senegal international at around £80m. Ndiaye's 7.9 Premier League rating gives City a reason to look, while Everton's 13th-place finish in 2025 is a reminder that they can still set a serious asking price when they like a player.
For Arsenal, the Alvarez chase remains the cleaner story. For Atletico, the decision is about whether a forward with 8 World Cup appearances, 631 minutes and a 6.66 rating is the sort of asset they can cash in on without weakening themselves in the process.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
