Arsenal now in pole position to sign £129m striker

Whilst many will be flicking through the channels waiting to land on three World Cup games in one day this summer, Andrea Berta will be replaying Gabriel’s penalty miss over and over again, knowing full well that there’s still another level to reach in this Arsenal side.

The recruitment chief enjoyed an excellent first summer at the helm last year, but could be about to produce some of the biggest moves in the club’s history all while admiring his own reflection in the golden glow of a Premier League medal.

Arsenal steal pole position to sign star striker

The champions seem intent on making a statement this summer. This is very much Mikel Arteta’s town these days. He’s the new sheriff after playing the role of deputy for so many years under Pep Guardiola. And as he trots through the streets, he’s looking to pick up some star names along the way.

That could include Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi. The forward enjoyed an excellent debut campaign in the Premier League and could be on his way to the Emirates in a sensational move.

Arsenal are very much interested in the French teenager but he’s not the only attacking target to emerge, however. They are set to focus on improving their frontline yet again this summer, having faced so much criticism in open play last season.

According to AS in Spain, Arsenal are now leading the race to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid. The Spanish club seem intent on denying Real Madrid or Barcelona the chance to land the Argentine star, and that has swung the door open for those in North London to swoop in.

That’s not to say the deal will come cheap, though. Real Madrid saw an offer worth €150m (£129m) rejected earlier this week and the least Arsenal will have to do is match that offer. The report notes that the Gunners are the player’s only hope of securing an exit.

It would make Alvarez the most expensive signing in the club’s history and seal his return to English football for the first time since leaving Manchester City in 2024.

How Alvarez compares to Kroupi

In the time that the rumours have gained traction between the end of the season and now, Diego Simeone has seemingly taken hold of Atletico Madrid’s social media. To say that the Spanish club have not shied away from sharing their true feelings about the possible sale of Alvarez would be a major understatement.

They’ve publicly laughed at Real Madrid and Barcelona in a way that only makes sense in the year of 2026. But while the spotlight is on their rivals, Arsenal may receive a kinder reaction.

At a time when they’re clearly disgusted by the idea of selling to another La Liga giant, Atletico could bite Arsenal’s hand off for the right price. From their perspective, if Alvarez dares to push for a move, the Gunners offer the best solution for all parties.

In terms of quality, meanwhile, it’s hard to deny that the 26-year-old would be the ultimate solution to Arteta’s problems from open play. He is the exact profile that the Spaniard needs in North London.

Kroupi’s time will arrive soon enough, but he shouldn’t be the priority for Arsenal this summer. The 19-year-old is not the full package at this stage and no one is expecting him to be.

Alvarez, even in a poor season in front of goal, proved to be a big game player in the Champions League and recorded chance creation numbers which highlight his ability in possession. Across all competitions, he scored 20 goals. The season before he bagged 29. This is a proven elite centre-forward we’re talking about here.

Unlike Viktor Gyokeres and Kroupi last season, the former Man City man is not just an out-and-out goalscorer, though. He is an excellent link between thirds without the sacrifice of big-game moments. In his final season at the Etihad, the Argentine produced 13 assists alongside his 19 goals. It is no wonder Argentine journalist Pablo Gonzalez described him as a “monster.

They may have to suffer a few dramatic social media posts about their offer, but that should not stop Arsenal from doing everything to sign Alvarez this summer.