Arsenal made a proposal to initiate negotiations for Julian Alvarez | OneFootball

Arsenal made a proposal of over €100 million to initiate negotiations for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez. The Gunners also offered a player to sweeten the deal.

Arsenal are among the teams in the queue to sign Alvarez, who is expected to be on the move this summer.

The North Londoners are already trying to bolster their squad ahead of next season, and Alvarez would be a replacement for Gabriel Jesus.

Jesus should leave the Emirates Stadium after failing to shrug off the injuries that have plagued his past two campaigns.

Alvarez would be a fantastic signing for the Gunners. He is an incredible fighter.

The 26-year-old Argentine had a good 2025/26 season, bagging 20 goals and nine assists in 49 appearances across all competitions.

However, Arsenal are not alone in the race for his signature, with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona also pushing to sign him.

It remains unclear who will land him at this point, with Atletico vehemently against Barcelona’s charm offensive.

But the pursuit of Alvarez increasingly feels like a vanity exercise rather than a strategic necessity for Arsenal.

His return of a measly eight La Liga goals this season raises legitimate questions about whether he represents an upgrade worthy of a nine-figure outlay.

Arsenal would be better served by building around Victor Gyokeres as the focal point. His profile is better suited to the Premier League.

The remaining attacking slot should go to a younger, emerging forward ready to develop in tandem with Kai Havertz, offering mobility, pressing intensity and long-term upside.

Alvarez is an expensive luxury rather than an essential solution for Mikel Arteta’s side. Interest in the young Frenchman Junior Eli Kroupi makes more sense.

He also knows the Premier League well after a fantastic debut campaign in which he bagged 13 goals.

Kroupi is less expensive and just as ready to explode at the Emirates. He also has a very similar profile to Alvarez.