Atletico Madrid have two Arsenal forwards on their transfer radar, according to a Football.London report published on Wednesday. The London outlet named Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus as players who “appeal” to the Rojiblancos, with either or both potentially available as part of a swap-based move.
Any transfer of that shape hinges on a deal Atletico have already shut down in public. Julian Alvarez pushed hard for a move to Barcelona this summer, but the Rojiblancos refused to let him join a domestic rival, and CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin closed the door in a statement last week.
“We cannot allow other clubs and their friendly media to decide what we have to do, dictate our sporting strategy and disrespect us,” Gil Marin said, without naming Barcelona directly.
Alvarez has a €500m release clause and is under contract at the Metropolitano until June 2030.
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Arsenal seen as Alvarez’s only realistic exit
With Barcelona ruled out, Sky Sports reported on Tuesday that Arsenal is the 26-year-old’s only realistic route out of Madrid this summer, though a fee of around £130m would be needed to shift Atletico’s stance.
Diego Simeone, who reached an agreement in March to stay in charge until at least the end of 2026-27, has publicly maintained that Alvarez is not for sale. Atletico expert Ruben Uría told Sky Sports that “the entire Apollo board supports Gil Marin’s decision” and that Alvarez has been informed of the position.
Berta’s Atletico past sits behind the talks
Arsenal’s willingness to keep probing owes something to their sporting director. Andrea Berta was appointed to the role in March 2025 after almost 12 years running football operations at Atletico, where he helped assemble squads that won two La Liga titles, the Europa League and the Copa del Rey.
Gyokeres arrived from Sporting in the summer of 2025 for a fee widely reported around €70m and has been Mikel Arteta’s first-choice striker over the past season. Jesus has been linked with a move away from the Emirates for several transfer windows and has featured in reported swap proposals throughout this summer.
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Football.London’s report does not suggest either player has demanded a departure. Both are described as appealing profiles for Atletico if a package for Alvarez ever materializes. Arsenal have reportedly floated combinations of cash and a player as ways to force the issue, though Atletico continue to treat the Alvarez saga as closed.
The window closes on September 1.
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