Arsenal’s ambitions for a historic Premier League and Champions League double have been tempered by a significant blow in the summer transfer market. One of their primary long-term targets, Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez, has reportedly completed a move to Paris Saint-Germain, thwarting the Gunners’ hopes of bolstering their attacking line-up.

The news comes as a “£100m transfer hijack” according to TEAMtalk, which relayed claims that a deal for Alvarez to move to France could be closer. Arsenal had previously seen a mega nine-figure bid for Alvarez rejected, highlighting their persistent interest in the “extraordinary” forward, as described by Givemesport.

Alvarez chooses Paris over London

The Spanish media has been abuzz with reports confirming Alvarez’s preference for the French capital. Spanish analyst Jose Antonio Martin Otin, speaking to Cadena COPE, stated unequivocally, “He’s a player who’s already been transferred to PSG.” This sentiment was echoed by journalist Roberto Gomez on Radio Marca, who also ruled out another European giant from the race.

“We still have to wait and see what happens with Julián Alvarez, but Barcelona doesn’t have the money to sign him. The team the player wants is PSG,” Gomez told Radio Marca, a statement also relayed by Sport. This suggests that despite Arsenal’s strong season and potential for silverware, the allure and financial power of PSG ultimately proved decisive for Alvarez.

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Arsenal’s attacking dilemma

The reported transfer leaves Mikel Arteta’s side needing to pivot in their search for a new forward. The Gunners are keen to strengthen their attack for the upcoming season, with concerns over the reliability of current options in front of goal. While Kai Havertz recently scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory against Burnley, starting ahead of Viktor Gyokeres, neither player has consistently proven to be a prolific scorer.

Further complicating Arsenal’s striker situation are the potential departures of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, who are both considered likely to be sold. This leaves Arteta with a significant void to fill as he aims to build on a successful campaign and compete on all fronts. With Alvarez seemingly off the market and heading to Arsenal’s Champions League final opponents, the club will now need to identify new alternatives to reinforce their attacking options.

Sources: www.givemesport.com, Teamtalk.com

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