Arsenal will not let the Alvarez chase die
The Friday gossip column lands with one dominant storyline: Arsenal are refusing to give up on Julian Alvarez. The 26-year-old Argentina forward is, per the reports gathered by BBC Sport, keen on a move away from Atletico Madrid, and the Gunners intend to keep knocking on the door until the window slams shut.
It is a chase that makes football sense. Alvarez is a World Cup winner with a 86 OVR profile, peak-age output, and the versatility to play as a single striker or drop into a front two. Atletico hold the leverage, but a player who wants out changes the arithmetic of every negotiation.
The Enzo Fernandez domino
Two threads run through today’s news, and both pass through Manchester.
Manchester City have identified Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye as a target, but the Toffees value the Senegal international at around £80m, a number designed to end conversations rather than start them. Meanwhile Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, 25, remains hopeful of completing his move to City, and the London club have already lined up Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, 23, as a potential replacement.
If Fernandez goes, Chelsea need a midfielder. If he stays, Ndiaye’s £80m tag suddenly looks different. One deal moves, and the whole midfield market moves with it.
The rest of Friday’s board
- Aston Villa contact Rafael Leao directly as they try to beat Galatasaray to the AC Milan winger, 27.
- Nottingham Forest bid up to £22m for Crystal Palace wing-back Daniel Munoz, 30.
- Atletico Madrid consider a double Brazilian raid for Nottingham Forest's Igor Jesus, 25, and Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus, 29, as they brace for a possible Alvarez exit.
- Napoli explore a loan for Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade, 24.
- Manchester United offered Chelsea's Tosin Adarabioyo, 28, as they hunt defensive reinforcements.
- Hull City close in on AS Roma's French striker Robinio Vaz, 19.
- Moise Kean edges toward Como in a Fiorentina deal that could reach £35m.
- Leeds allow Lucas Perri to finalize a Torino loan, with Standard Liege's Matthieu Epolo, 21, considered as his replacement.
Why the Alvarez story matters most
Every elite club needs a striker who converts half-chances in the biggest games, and there are perhaps a dozen of them in world football. Alvarez is one. Arsenal’s persistence tells you the club believes Atletico’s resolve can be broken, or that the player’s desire to leave will do the breaking for them.
The subplot is equally tasty: Atletino scouting Igor Jesus and Gabriel Jesus is textbook replacement planning. Clubs do not spend their Friday evenings drawing up forward shortlists unless they expect a vacancy.
View full profile and AI-powered transfer intelligence at skouted.ai