Arsenal get new Julian Alvarez boost after fresh twist in transfer saga

Barcelona had been pushing hard to sign Alvarez this summer and previously saw a bid worth €100million (£85m) for his services rejected by their LaLiga rivals.

The former Manchester City forward has been public about his desire to complete a dream switch to the Camp Nou, but Atletico have remained steadfast in their stance that he is not for sale this summer at any price.

According to ESPN, Barcelona have now decided to end their attempts to sign Alvarez for now and are assessing other options to improve their attack before the end of the window amid links to the likes of Sporting frontman Luis Suarez, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Villarreal duo Ayoze Perez and Georges Mikautadze.

They have also been tentatively linked with a shock swoop for Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Familiar face: Julian Alvarez played for Atletico Madrid against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals last season

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Barcelona boss Hansi Flick needs further reinforcements in the final third to complement the signings of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, after Ferran Torres joined Paris Saint-Germain and Robert Lewandowski left the club at the end of his contract, moving to Major League Soccer (MLS) with Chicago Fire.

Simeone had confirmed ahead of the game that the 26-year-old would not feature as he builds up his fitness in the aftermath of an extended break that followed Argentina’s run to a second successive World Cup final in North America earlier this summer.

Despite not playing in the 2-0 win over Malaga, Alvarez was still targeted by negative chants and whistles from a small section of the Atletico fanbase who are angry about his wish to leave and join Barcelona, while a fan banner criticising his conduct also circulated on social media.

Asked about those chants after the game, Simeone - who insisted earlier this week that Alvarez was his best player and that Atletico would look to build their team around him - said: “I respect our fans very much.”

On transfers generally, he added: “We're always open to the possibility of something happening. It's something I've always said, and it doesn't mean I'm talking about anyone in particular.

“I've always said it. The club is working to give us the best possible squad.”