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Fabrizio Romano says £82m Arsenal target now joining Atletico Madrid instead

Giuseppe Labellarte

Tue 6 August 2024 20:45, UK

Arsenal are likely to be busy in the latter stages of the transfer window as Edu and Mikel Arteta look to strengthen their ranks before deadline day.

The Gunners have made oᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚne senior signing so far this summer, bringing Riccardo Calafiori to N5 from Bologna, and chances are they’re not done yet.

Arsenal have been linked with a number of strikers, as the lack of an out-a♒nd-out No. 9 cost the Gunners some precious points in the Premier League last seas🗹on.

However, there will invariably be targets who w꧂ill slip through the net in any given transfer window.

Now according to Fabrizio Romano, one forward said to be on the Arsenal radar has committed his future elsꦅewhere.

READ MORE: ‘Exciting’ Arsenal talent set for La🐻 Liga lo🗹an after penning new contract

Arsenal target Julian Alvarez now Atletico Madrid-bound

The player in question is Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez, who꧑ the Gunners were linked with as late as this week.

A few days ago, it was reported that Arsenal were willing to pay £70m♌illion to sign Alvarez from their title-rivals this summer.

However, the Gun🌼ners were up against it, amid intensifying interesꦰt from Atletico Madrid.

Now, Romano has declared “here we go” on Al♑varez to the Wanda Metropolitan🌞o for a fee of £82million including add-ons.

Arsenal were always going to struggle for Alvarez

Alvarez is a talented and versatile forward who can play up front and on the right flank. At 24 years of age, he’s yet to enter hi💯s prime.

However, the Gunners may have known all along that striking another deal with Manchester City over a ga🔯me-changing play would’ve ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚbeen difficult.

Man City happily sold Oleksandr Zin🌱chenko and Gabriel Jesus 𒀰in 2022, only for them to turn Arsenal into title-challengers and give their former team an almighty scare.

With that in mind, the Citizens will not want to directly contribute to pot♊entially losing the P🐟remier League title – or perhaps even the Champions League – to Arsenal in future.

Who could Arsenal sign next?

According to reports, Arsenal are set to announce the arrival of Mikel Merino from Real Sꦦociedad in the coming days.

It has been said that Barcelona pulled out of the race after learni🗹ng that Merino only wanted to join Arsenal this summer.

Should the Gunners sign Merino, that would take thei🔜r tally to two senior summer signings, and chances are that won’t be the end of it.

With the transfer deadline just over three weeks away (Friday 30 August), time i🐭♊s of the essence.