Arsenal make Julian Alvarez transfer decision after Atletico Madrid block Barcelona

Arsenal are ready to make a move to sign Julian Alvarez (NurPhoto via Getty)

Arsenal plan to open talks with Atletico Madrid over a deal for Julian Alvarez , according to reports in Spain.

Barcelona appear to be the frontrunners to sign Alvarez in the summer transfer window with the Argentina international understood to be prioritising a move to the Spanish champions .

However, Barcelona have been unable to agree a fee for Alvarez so far and RAC1 reported on Tuesday that their opening bid of €100 million (£86.4m) has been rejected by Atletico.

According to AS , Atletico have been unhappy with Barcelona over their publicised pursuit of Alvarez and they are now ‘blocking’ the 26-year-old’s move to Camp Nou.

The report claims that Arsenal have been in contact with Alvarez’s agent and the Premier League champions will now begin formal discussions with Atletico, who are holding out for a €150m (£129.6m) transfer fee.

Julian Alvarez’s preference is to join Barcelona this summer (Getty)

Atletico have been adamant that Alvarez is not for sale and in a response to Arsenal’s latest link with the former Manchester City forward, a source from the Spanish club told Libertad Digital on Tuesday: ‘Two weeks ago it was PSG, last week Barcelona, now Arsenal. We count on Julian for next season.’

Atletico, meanwhile, are preparing for Alvarez’s exit and AS report that the club have already made an enquiry to sign Victor Osimhen from Galatasaray.

After spending one season on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, Osimhen permanently joined the Turkish club last summer for €75m (£63m).

Osimhen has scored 59 goals in 74 appearances in two seasons with Galatasaray.