Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, are reportedly prepared to go “all in” to secure the signature of Julian Alvarez, a move that could trigger one of the most extensive transfer domino effects in recent football history.
According to GiveMeSport, the Atletico Madrid forward’s situation in the Spanish capital has become increasingly difficult, particularly after he was booed by his own supporters at the Wanda Metropolitano over the weekend.
While Alvarez is understood to have his heart set on a switch to Barcelona, Atletico Madrid remain steadfast in their refusal to sell him to their La Liga rivals. This stance, however, does not extend to the Premier League, with Atletico reportedly open to doing business with the English champions. This development has put Arsenal in a strong position to pursue the Argentine international.
The ripple effect at Arsenal
Should Alvarez arrive at Arsenal, it would undoubtedly raise questions about the future of current Gunners forward Viktor Gyokeres. Gyokeres has found himself on the bench for both of Arsenal’s opening two games of the new season, suggesting he may not be a guaranteed starter under Mikel Arteta. His departure could pave the way for a chain reaction of transfers across Europe.
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A statistical comparison from the 2025/26 league season, courtesy of FotMob, highlights the contrasting profiles of Alvarez and Gyokeres:
- Appearances: Gyokeres (36), Alvarez (29)
- Goals: Gyokeres (14), Alvarez (8)
- Assists: Gyokeres (1), Alvarez (4)
- Shots per 90: Gyokeres (2.22), Alvarez (2.56)
- Non-Penalty Expected Goals per 90: Gyokeres (0.4), Alvarez (0.25)
- Key Passes per 90: Gyokeres (0.81), Alvarez (2.22)
- Expected Assists per 90: Gyokeres (0.08), Alvarez (0.24)
- Touches per 90: Gyokeres (26.3), Alvarez (51)
- Successful Dribbles per 90: Gyokeres (0.28), Alvarez (1.23)
Barcelona, having let go of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres this summer, are still actively seeking a new striker. Manager Hansi Flick is reportedly keen on players with greater physical attributes, as evidenced by his signings of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi. With Gyokeres loosely linked to Barcelona, a move for the Swedish international could align with Flick’s transfer strategy.
A Premier League transfer chain reaction
The potential arrival of Alvarez would also push Gabriel Jesus further to the periphery of Arteta’s squad. As highlighted by GiveMeSport, Jesus was reportedly courted by Napoli earlier in the window but was not convinced by their offer. Everton, managed by David Moyes, were also said to be exploring a deal to sign Jesus earlier in the transfer period, with the striker potentially moving to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Should Jesus make the switch to Everton, it would likely render Beto surplus to requirements at the Merseyside club. Beto himself was linked with Nottingham Forest earlier in the summer, though Forest have since signed Liam Delap from Chelsea. If Beto were to join Nottingham Forest, it could leave Chris Wood searching for a new home, a player West Ham were understood to be interested in last year.
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The intricate web of potential transfers underscores the significant impact Julian Alvarez’s future could have. As outlined by GiveMeSport, one blockbuster Arsenal deal could potentially spark a remarkable domino effect involving Gyokeres, Jesus, Beto and Wood, with several Premier League and European clubs potentially forced to rethink their plans before the transfer window closes.
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