Barcelona have opted not to pursue the signing of Atletico forward Julian Alvarez in the upcoming January transfer window, as reported by Fichajes.
Alvarez was the Catalan club's main transfer target during the summer, with the player himself keen on making the move to Camp Nou.
This left Arsenal, who had been eyeing the striker, missing out on the opportunity to secure his signature. Journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that Mikel Arteta even reached out personally to Alvarez. The forward, however, didn’t outright decline the Gunners’ interest; instead, he chose to bide his time for an offer from Barcelona.
With the Catalans now stepping back from any plans for a winter transfer, Alvarez may need to reassess his options, particularly with Arsenal still in need of a top-class striker.
If Arsenal do look elsewhere, Viktor Djoekeresh could be a viable alternative. The Swedish forward outscored Alvarez last season, though the Argentine is often regarded as the more versatile player.
