Julian Alvarez has been linked with a blockbuster move to Arsenal throughout the summer window.
Arsenal look set to miss out on the signing of Julian Alvarez on deadline day (Image: Getty)
Arsenal are not expected to pursue a blockbuster move for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez ahead of tonight’s transfer deadline, according to reports. The forward had been desperate to leave the Spanish capital, with Barcelona emerging as his preferred destination. They tried to sign him earlier in the window but Atletico refused to entertain their advances, instead placing a huge nine-figure price tag on the forward.
Earlier this week, Atletico made it clear that Alvarez would not be sold to Barcelona under any circumstances. It was also reported that Arsenal were seeking assurances that he genuinely wanted to join them before pursuing a club-record move, with Atletico seeking around £130million in exchange for his signature.
Now, any lingering hope of a move to the Emirates Stadium appears to be dead in the water, according to the Daily Mail.
It’s claimed that Alvarez is now expected to stay at Atletico Madrid, having returned to first-team training on Tuesday morning.
He had missed a number of sessions, in addition to the victory over Sevilla on the weekend, officially due to ‘illness’. However, his return to the training ground suggests there is almost no chance of an exit before the window closes tonight.
It leaves Arsenal facing a quiet deadline day in terms of incomings, with little sign of a new forward joining the club in the remaining hours.
They were briefly in talks over a potential move for Lyon attacker Malick Fofana, but he is now set to sign for Sunderland in a deal worth around £30m.
Arsenal are poised to sanction at least one exit after Fabio Vieira’s permanent move to Hamburg, with Ethan Nwaneri expected to join Borussia Dortmund on loan until the end of the season.
He is believed to be travelling to Germany to undergo a medical and thrash out the final details of the move, which will be a straight loan with no purchase clause included in the deal.
Speaking after Monday night’s victory over Aston Villa, manager Mikel Arteta refused to rule out the possibility of adding to his squad on deadline day.
He said: “We are trying to improve the squad, and until tomorrow night we’re going to try to do that.
“I’ve been disconnected from the world for 24 hours, because I think my energy and focus has to be on the match, and I will get back on it now.”
