Morgan Rogers is a serious target for Arsenal. (Image: Getty Images)
The champagne from Sunday may still be flowing, and there’s still a Champions League final to prepare for, but Arsenal’s attention is already turning towards the summer transfer window. Having finally secured the English title for the first time since 2004, the Gunners will be intent on ensuring their reign at the top is not a brief one.
Consequently, several marquee signings are expected. With a defensive unit widely considered their greatest strength and a midfield already brimming with quality, Arsenal are poised to prioritise offensive reinforcements this summer. While marquee signing Viktor Gyokeres enjoyed a mixed first season in north London, he has yet to provide the clinical, relentless quality that characterises Europe’s most formidable teams.
Beyond him, the supporting cast have largely struggled to chip in with sufficient goals, with Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze the only other Arsenal players to reach double figures this campaign.
Arsenal ended the season with 71 league goals – the lowest total for a Premier League champion since Leicester’s 68 in 2015/16. Bolstering their attacking output has emerged as a clear priority. Here, Express Sport examines what Arsenal’s ideal first signing of the summer could resemble.
Arsenal are reportedly weighing up a £100million swoop for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez. It’s understood that Alvarez has made Atletico aware of his wish to depart, and while his preferred destination is Barcelona, Hansi Flick’s side are currently unable to match their La Liga rivals’ £100m asking price owing to financial restrictions.
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This has created an opportunity for Arsenal, who are eager to bolster their attacking options with a versatile, high-energy forward. Alvarez, who enjoyed two campaigns at Manchester City, is adept at playing as a No. 9, in addition to operating across either flank and in the No.10 position.
Arsenal have been tracking the Argentina international, 26, for a number of years, with sporting director Andrea Berta having previously facilitated his switch to Atletico back in 2024. Mikel Arteta is known to prize multi-functional, industrious forwards and Alvarez matches that blueprint – combining the qualities of a clinical finisher with those of a tireless pressing machine.
Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez has been linked with Arsenal (Image: Getty Images)
He has scored 20 goals in 49 appearances this season, following a 29-goal debut campaign at the Metropolitano Stadium. A signing of his stature would not only alleviate the goalscoring burden on Gyokeres but would also establish a more versatile attacking threat to Arsenal’s frontline.
The Gunners will, however, need to tread carefully. A £100m expenditure on Alvarez would account for a considerable chunk of their summer budget, and with Arteta equally eager to bolster his left wing options, Arsenal may ultimately be compelled to prioritise one attacking position over another.
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With Financial Fair Play considerations still very much in play and numerous areas of the squad under scrutiny, Arsenal’s recruitment team will be tasked with striking a careful balance between immediate impact and long-term squad depth.
At the same time, the battle for elite attacking talent remains cutthroat across Europe, meaning any hesitation could prove an expensive mistake should other leading clubs opt to enter the race later in the window. And with Alvarez already having demonstrated his quality in the Premier League, a move for him would be thoroughly justified at that price.
He could also be joined by Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, with talkSPORT claiming that Arteta is pushing internally to bring the England international to north London in what would be a deadly partnership with Alvarez.