Arsenal put on red alert following Pep Guardiola’s Julian Alvarez transfer admission

Arsenal have completed the signings of David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori but are still in the market for a new striker with Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez a target

Julian Alvarez has put his Manchester City future in doubt 

Arsenal are monitoring Julian Alvarez’s fall-out with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

The Gunners are ready to go into the new season without signing a new striker – but Guardiola’s cutting response to Alvarez’s revelation that he will decide on his future after the Olympics could prompt a change of plan at the Emirates.

City’s Catalan boss’ stance that he will never prevent an unhappy player from leaving could open the door for Mikel Arteta to raid his former club for a third time following the arrivals of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko – but it would have to be at the right price.

Suggestions from the Etihad that the Premier League champions will demand a deal, including add-ons, of around £80million for the Argentine World Cup winner would be too rich for the Londoners.

But they would have funds to put a significant bid on the table if homegrown duo Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson follow Emile Smith Rowe out of the club.

Arsenal have already invested £70million to recruit defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna and make keeper David Raya ’s move from Brentford permanent.

The Gunners were not expecting to make any further big-money buys – but that could change if Alvarez is made available.

The South American ticks a lot of the boxes for the Gunners. At 24, he is still some years away from his peak, his two seasons in Manchester have realised back-to-back titles and he has also lifted the Champions League and FA Cup.

He would also guarantee Arteta goals. He has scored 20 times in just 44 Premier League starts, despite often being deployed by Guardiola as a midfielder.

Julian Alvarez scored 20 times for City last season
Alvarez, who joined City in a £14.1million deal from River Plate, voiced his dissatisfaction over his manager’s reluctance to start him in big games like the Champions League Final and FA Cup Final.

He knows that Erling Haaland remains the club’s No 1 striker and his threat to leave has not been well received in Manchester.

Alvarez’s gold medal dream was ended by France on Friday and he will now be given three weeks off by his club after virtually three years of playing without an extended break.

Chelsea, Paris St Germain and Atletico Madrid are also big admirers of the City striker.