Arsenal waiting for Atletico to block Barcelona move for 26-year-old; plan swap deal | OneFootball

Arsenal are prepared to make their move for Julian Alvarez if FC Barcelona’s pursuit of the Argentine striker finally collapses.

The Gunners remain interested in strengthening their attack, but they are understood to be waiting to see whether Atletico Madrid continue to refuse to negotiate with Barca before stepping up their efforts.

According to SPORT, citing The Times, Arsenal believe there is still a chance to convince Alvarez if he accepts that a move to Barcelona is no longer possible this summer.

Arsenal hoping Barcelona deal falls apart

Mikel Arteta is said to have identified Alvarez as his preferred attacking signing, but Arsenal have so far failed to persuade the striker to consider their project.

The report claims that the Argentine has remained focused on one destination only: Barcelona.

Arsenal are therefore keeping their proposal ready while waiting for the situation between Barca and Atletico to reach a conclusion.

A possible offer could include Viktor Gyokeres as part of the deal, alongside a substantial cash payment that could reach around €100 million including bonuses. Such a package is believed to appeal more to Atletico, with Diego Simeone said to be an admirer of the Swedish striker.

For now, however, Arsenal are not expected to make a formal push until Alvarez’s camp signals a willingness to negotiate. From Barcelona’s perspective, little has changed.

The Blaugrana continue to view Alvarez as their dream signing to lead the attack, even while exploring contingency plans should the operation ultimately fail.

The biggest obstacle remains Atletico Madrid’s stance. Barcelona believe their offer is fair but have made it clear that it will not remain on the table indefinitely. That deadline could soon force all parties to make a decision.

The encouraging aspect for Barcelona is that Alvarez’s desire to wear the Blaugrana shirt appears unchanged. Despite interest from one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, there is still no indication that he is ready to abandon his ambition of moving to Camp Nou.

Whether that determination is enough to soften Atletico’s position remains the key question.