The transfer market continues to heat up as Premier League clubs make their moves ahead of the new season. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has identified Argentina World Cup star Julian Alvarez as his top attacking target, and the 26-year-old's impressive goalscoring record at Manchester City has only strengthened his case.
Alvarez scored 36 goals across two seasons at City, despite playing back-up to Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland, and Arteta believes he can bring much-needed spark to Arsenal's attack. However, the issue for the Premier League champions is that Atletico Madrid, Alvarez's current club, are demanding well over £100m for the World Cup and two-time Premier League winner.
Arsenal are reportedly reluctant to pay more than £90m, but Manchester United legend Paul Scholes is a huge fan of Alvarez and believes the Premier League champions should do everything they can to bring him to the Emirates Stadium after the World Cup.
'If Atletico Madrid want £100m, any big club needs to go and get him,' Scholes said on a recent podcast. 'There's not even a debate. I don't think there's loads of top-class centre-forwards knocking about. I don't see him as an out-and-out centre-forward, he's more of a drifter.'
Scholes' former United and England teammate Nicky Butt added that Alvarez would be a perfect partner for an out-and-out centre-forward like Viktor Gyokeres, who has still not won over several pundits despite his strong second-half to the season.
There are still huge question marks over Gyokeres, and it was even suggested last month that Arsenal could use him in a deal to bring Alvarez to north London. However, Gyokeres has said he feels extremely comfortable at Arsenal and has positive feelings about the season the team has had.
Arsenal are not only considering an official bid for Alvarez but are also keeping tabs on several midfielders, including England's Morgan Rogers and Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes, as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
