PSG fire early blow at Arsenal ahead of Champions League final after Luis Enrique 'specific request'

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Evening Standard

·13 maggio 2026

PSG fire early blow at Arsenal ahead of Champions League final after Luis Enrique 'specific request'

Mind games could already be at play ahead of Budapest showdown

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique is aiming to get an early win over Arsenal ahead of the Champions League final, by signing the Gunners' main summer transfer target.

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The European giants face off in Budapest on May 30 in the biggest club match of the season, was PSG look to defend their crown won last year as Arsenal aim to win the European Cup for the first time.

But that showpiece at the Puskas Stadium is not be the only battle PSG and Arsenal are expected to face off in, with both teams reportedly interested in Julian Alvarez.

The Atletico Madrid striker, formerly of Manchester City, is expected to be a prominent figure during this summer's transfer window.

Julian Alvarez facing Arsenal earlier this month

Standard Sport understands that the Gunners hold a long-standing interest in Alvarez, and reportedly weighed up a move last summer before signing Viktor Gyokeres.

Speaking last month, Diego Simeone, Alvarez's head coach at Atletico, appeared to confirm both Arsenal and PSG are interested in his player.

Asked if Alvarez was looking to leave Atleti, Simeone replied: "I'm not inside Julian Alvarez’s head.

"I understand it’s normal that an extraordinary player like Julian Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona. It's normal because he's very good."

And now Spanish outlet AS report that PSG head coach Enrique has made a 'specific request' to the club's board to sign Alvarez, who he tried and failed to sign two years ago.

AS report that PSG, and working with Enrique, could be the most attractive offer to Alvarez, over Arsenal or staying in Spain and joining Barcelona.

Few teams have spent more than Arsenal since Mikel Arteta's appointment, but PSG would be a rare case of a club outmuscling the Gunners financially.

With the 2026 World Cup set to disrupt much of the first two month of the transfer window, movement on a possible deal for Alvarez could step up sooner rather than later.