Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has reportedly been in contact with Atlético Madrid over Julian Alvarez, though he will struggle to follow through on the La Liga club's insistence on selling him this summer.
The Argentinian has accomplished more in his career than most players achieve in a lifetime.
He won the World Cup, Copa América, Champions League, Premier League and Copa Libertadores, while playing for River Plate, Man City, Atlético Madrid and Argentina.
There are very few pros on the market with that elite combination of experience and years ahead of them.
His numbers tell the story.
Alvarez scored 36 goals in 103 appearances for City despite often competing with Erling Haaland for minutes. Since joining Atlético Madrid in 2024, he has taken another step forward, scoring 49 goals in 106 games while becoming Diego Simeone's main attacking threat.
Throughout his club career, he has scored 139 goals in 331 games, and added 15 goals in 58 games for Argentina.
Those statistics explain why Europe's biggest teams continue to chase him. Alvarez is more than just a finisher, he presses relentlessly, runs channels, links and plays and is equally comfortable leading the line or playing just behind another striker.
Perhaps most importantly, he has repeatedly delivered under pressure. Whether it was helping Argentina lift the World Cup, winning the Treble with City or becoming Atlético's mainstay after making club history, Alvarez has never looked daunted by the biggest moments.
If Arsenal do indeed have the chance to sign him, it's hard to think of many strikers who would fit Arteta's system better.
However, that may still be difficult.
According to talkSPORT reporter Ben Jacobs, Arsenal are continuing to look at a deal for Alvarez despite the striker making no secret of his desire to join Barcelona.
Jacobs added that Berta is in talks with his former club Atlético and believes the Spanish club are currently more willing to negotiate with a non-La Liga rival than to strengthen Barcelona.
He also reports that although Alvarez has a £425 million release clause written into his £115,000-a-week contract, there are clauses that allow certain Champions League clubs to negotiate a much lower fee.
However, any agreement still seems very difficult.
Atlético chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín has publicly insisted that Alvarez is not for sale, saying the club will reject offers of up to £170 million.
That announcement underscores just how important the Argentine has been since his arrival from City.
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Barcelona have not completely given up hope of signing Alvarez, meaning Arsenal could face competition if the situation changes later in the window.
For now, however, Arteta's side are likely to keep the lines of communication open while monitoring developments.
It's still one of the hardest transfers to pull off this summer, but Arsenal's continued interest says everything about how highly they rate one of the most complete players in world football.
