Arsenal could sign Julian Alvarez on one condition, and Man City could replace him with player who Arteta rejected

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One Arsenal transfer target could be the key to Mikel Arteta launching a bid to sign Manchester City attacker Julian Alvarez.

Arsenal have recently been credited with an interest in signing Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez.

The Argentina international sparked speculation about his future at the Etihad Stadium with recent comments concerning his game time, but Arsenal have been warned Manchester City won’t sell Alvarez to them. 

After all, Pep Guardiola surely won’t want to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad, given the Gunners are likely to be the reigning champions’ main title rivals this season. In fact, Gabby Agbonlahor has named Arsenal favourites to win the Premier League. 

In any case, according to Football Transfers, the North London club are willing to meet the Cityzens’ £70 million asking price for Alvarez. 

• READ MORE: Every player linked to and from Arsenal in the summer 2024 transfer window

Ivan Toney to Manchester City could trigger Arsenal move for Julian Alvarez

However, Manchester City will only consider parting with the 24-year-old if they have a replacement ready to take his place in the squad. To that end, Guardiola is now considering a swoop for Brentford striker Ivan Toney. 

Toney has been heavily linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium himself. The England ace is certainly ready to test himself in the upper reaches of the Premier League, having proven that he can be prolific in the top flight of English football.

Alvarez is not the forward Arsenal need

Arteta passed on the chance to sign Toney, opening the door for Manchester City to swoop. If the champions take that course of action, then that could trigger the Gunners’ own move for Alvarez.

However, many Arsenal fans aren’t keen on Alvarez. Whilst the 2022 World Cup winner is undoubtedly a talented player, he is not the out-and-out centre-forward that Arteta’s squad is lacking. 

Like Gabriel Jesus, who also once plied his trade for Manchester City, Alvarez is able to play anywhere across the front line, and offers plenty of technical quality, but due to this he is not always in the box to arrive on the end of moves.

Arteta needs a pure goalscorer, who can be relied upon to find the back of the net with greater regularity than either Jesus or Kai Havertz. As such, Arsenal are now working to sign Dominic Solanke, and also have Viktor Gyokeres amongst their targets.