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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are set to suffer a huge blow in their quest to bring Julian Alvarez to the Emirates Stadium, with Barcelona now in the advanced stages of getting a deal done for the Atletico Madrid striker, according to reports.<\/p>\n
Despite signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP in the summer of 2025, Arsenal are keen on signing Alvarez from Atletico Madrid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Alvarez<\/strong> won the Premier League and the Champions League with Manchester City, and Arsenal<\/strong> believe that he would be a great signing for Arteta\u2019s team.<\/p>\n Arsenal have already held talks with Alvarez\u2019s representatives<\/strong>but Barcelona are now pressing ahead in their quest to sign the 26-year-old.<\/p>\n According to Sport<\/em>Barcelona sporting director Deco held a meeting with Alvarez\u2019s agent, Fernando Hidalgo, for \u2018more than four hours\u2019 on Wednesday afternoon in a hotel in Barcelona.<\/p>\n The meeting was encouraging for Barcelona<\/strong>who are now planning to make a bid of \u20ac90million (\u00a378m) for the Argentina international striker.<\/p>\n READ: Spurs legend Harry Kane makes Arsenal vs PSG prediction ahead of Champions League final<\/strong><\/p>\n The report in the Barcelona-leaning Catalan publication has reported Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain\u2019s interest in Alvarez and has noted: \u2018During the talks between the club and the player\u2019s representatives, the sporting director conveyed the need for Juli\u00e1n to take a step to clearly demonstrate his priority.<\/p>\n \u2018The aim was for Atl\u00e9tico to understand that the striker\u2019s desire is to wear the Bar\u00e7a colours despite pressure from other major European clubs.<\/p>\n \u2018And at Bar\u00e7a, they believe that has already happened, and they conveyed this to him.<\/p>\n \u2018The Argentine, in his own way, has already taken a stand,\u00a0and this stance would have been key in getting the agents, at least directly,\u00a0to agree to a face-to-face meeting with Bar\u00e7a for the first time.\u2019<\/p>\n Sport<\/em> journalist Carlos Monfort has reported on X<\/em> that Alvarez is close to agreeing on personal terms with Barcelona.<\/p>\n READ MORE: The 20 best footballers out of contract and available for free this summer<\/strong><\/p>\n Monfort wrote on X<\/em> at 10:27am on May 28: \u201cBarca are considering sending a formal offer in the next few hours for Juli\u00e1n \u00c1lvarez for 90 million + bonuses.<\/p>\n \u201cPersonal terms with the player are very advanced after yesterday\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is moving fast!\u201d<\/p>\n TalkSPORT<\/em> journalist Ben Jacobs has further decimated Arsenal\u2019s hopes of landing Alvarez by reporting that the striker has made it clear that he wants to join Barcelona.<\/p>\n Jacobs wrote on X<\/em> at 10:39am on May 28: \u201cBarcelona\u2019s dream target remains Julian Alvarez. Deco has been holding meetings since January, as revealed on @talkSPORT.<\/p>\n \u201cAlvarez has made it clear he wants to join Barcelona if the clubs agree a fee. Atletico Madrid are currently asking for more than Barcelona paid when they signed Antoine Griezmann in 2019.<\/p>\n \u201cAn opening bid is expected.\u201d<\/p>\n Alvarez joined Atletico from Man City in 2024 and is under contract at the Spanish club until the summer of 2030.<\/p>\n The striker has scored 49 goals and given 17 assists in 106 matches in all competitions for Atletico so far in his career.<\/p>\n READ NEXT: Top 10 Premier League market value decreases of 2025\/26 features Liverpool trio<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\nArsenal target Julian Alvarez wants to join Barcelona<\/strong><\/h2>\n