Atletico block Alvarez January exit as Arsenal submit offer for teenage midfielder Mora

Arsenal’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez has been shut down after Atletico Madrid confirmed they will not sanction the Argentine striker’s departure in January, while the Gunners have simultaneously submitted an offer for Club Tijuana teenager Gilberto Mora.

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal had maintained contact with Alvarez’s representatives in the hope of securing a move to England in the winter window. The Gunners were considered frontrunners for his signature after Atletico blocked a proposed switch to Barcelona, but new reports indicate the 24-year-old will not be permitted to leave Madrid at any point this season.

Alvarez himself appears to have softened his public stance on a transfer. After scoring the winning goal against RC Deportivo, he told Movistar Plus: “I’d like to apologise to our fans for what I said at the World Cup; it was a mistake in terms of how I said it and the timing. I understand why the fans are angry. If I were a fan, I’d be angry too. Especially given how they’ve supported me since I arrived.”

With the Alvarez route closed, Arsenal have turned their attention to Mora. Sports Witness reports that the north London club’s interest in the Club Tijuana attacking midfielder dates back to last October, and they have now formalised that interest with a concrete offer ahead of the January window opening.

Former Mexico international Claudio Suarez confirmed the approach, telling Unanimo: “I know for a fact that he’s had offers. Arsenal showed interest, and so did Bayern Munich.”

On the pitch, Mikel Arteta’s side are preparing for a Carabao Cup fourth-round trip to League Two side Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium, before a Premier League visit to Anfield to face Liverpool. Arteta, speaking after Saturday’s win over Everton, said his squad had delivered in almost every outing this season: “We just have to focus on what we can do, and we’re very pleased with 90% of the performances and results — apart from the Brighton game, I would say.”

The Fleetwood tie presents a 66-league-place gulf in class, though Arteta is expected to approach the cup fixture with full seriousness as Arsenal look to maintain momentum across all competitions.