Arteta phones Alvarez personally but Argentine still prefers Barcelona move

Mikel Arteta has personally telephoned Julián Álvarez in what Spanish outlet El Desmarque describes as the Arsenal manager’s “last card” in the pursuit of the Atlético Madrid forward, with the Gunners eager to add a world-class attacker before the transfer window closes.

Despite Arteta’s direct intervention, Álvarez is reported to have reiterated his preference for a move to Barcelona. The Spanish champions, however, remain reluctant to meet Atlético’s nine-figure asking price — Transfermarkt values the Argentine at €150 million — leaving the situation unresolved. Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín has already turned down a €150m approach from Real Madrid, and the Madrid club are understood to prefer selling Álvarez back to the Premier League, where he won a Treble with Manchester City.

Arsenal’s interest in Álvarez dates back to earlier in the summer window, but progress has been slow given his Camp Nou preference. The Gunners have been casting a wider net in the meantime, with Victor Osimhen and Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz emerging as more realistic alternatives. Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray, responded with “We’ll see” when asked about a departure from Turkey, according to Turkish outlet Gazete Pencere, though Saudi Pro League clubs are also monitoring his situation. James McNicholas of The Athletic reports that Arsenal are waiting to see whether Yildiz becomes available.

New signing Christos Tzolis is currently first choice on the left wing, while Viktor Gyökeres — linked with Barcelona and Atlético — has reportedly failed to fully convince some figures at the Emirates Stadium and has even been discussed as a potential makeweight in any deal. The Gunners are also looking to move on Brazilian pair Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli this summer, with Arteta notably leaving Martinelli off the bench for Sunday’s Community Shield victory, suggesting the forward is not central to his immediate plans. A potential profit sale of Ethan Nwaneri would further free up funds for a significant arrival.

With the window entering its final weeks, Arsenal’s pursuit of a top-level left winger remains unresolved. Whether Arteta’s personal pitch is enough to shift Álvarez’s thinking — or whether the club pivots entirely to Osimhen, Yildiz, or another target — is likely to define the Gunners’ attacking ambitions heading into their Premier League title defence.