Atletico Madrid have now started negotiations to sign £70m forward Arsenal are looking at

Add as preferred source on Google

It looks like it might be over before it really got started for Arsenal when it comes to one of their potential new signings.

While the Gunners have signed Riccardo Calafiori already and are thought to be close to landing Mikel Merino, other names have been mentioned as well.

As most Arsenal fans will attest to, a new forward could very much help in the coming season amid continued concern about a lack of a proper number nine.

This weekend, then, reports have suggested that Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez is a player of interest for Arsenal.

Alvarez is believed to be unhappy at being the man behind Erling Haaland and a move could well happen.

However, just as quickly as Arsenal’s interest is reported, it now looks like being pointless as Atletico Madrid step into the void to make Alvarez their main target.

Atletico Madrid start negotiations to sign Julian Alvarez

According to the Daily Mail’s Manchester City correspondent Jack Gaughan, the Spanish side have now started talks over signing Alvarez.

And according to Gaughan, City could bring a fee in of around £70m should they agree to sell the Argentinian.

Will Arsenal blink when it comes to Alvarez?

It doesn’t look like Atletico are messing about here and it looks like they want to get things done quickly as well.

For Arsenal, it’s now very much of a case of do they want to get involved in the bidding.

£70m would be a lot for the Gunners to shell out on a forward who in essence, might not even play at The Emirates either.

Still, this bid from Atletico lays down a marker.

Arsenal, then, will need to decide just how important they see a signing like Alvarez.

If the answer to that is ‘very important’, then we might well see the Gunners making their own move before all is said and done.