Julian Alvarez has told Arsenal if he is interested in a move to the Premier League champions this summer.
The Atletico Madrid star is of interest to the Gunners ahead of the transfer window, which is likely to see manager Mikel Arteta again spend heavily to tighten his team's grip on the Premier League trophy.
Arsenal reportedly weighed up a move for the former Manchester City last summer before signing Viktor Gyokeres.
Alvarez, who moved to Atleti two years ago in a deal worth around £81million, has four years to run on his current contract. It was Gunners’ sporting director, Andrea Berta, who negotiated that move a year before leave Atleti for north London.
However, according to reports in Spain, it is Barcelona, not Arsenal, where Alvarez is keen to move this summer.
Marca report that Alvarez has rejected an offer of a new contract at Atleti, telling the club that he wants to join "a more ambitious project".
It remains to be seen if Barca have the finances to take Alvarez to Camp Nou, but Atleti are now said to have accepted the player will depart - and hope a deal is wrapped up quickly.
Radio Marca’s Roberto Gomez claims that Atleti have issued Alvarez, and Barca, an ultimatum to resolve his future, as Diego Simeone looks to minimalise the impact of a key player exit.
"If you have an offer, make it now," Gomez said, outlining Atleti's demand. "Don’t wait here until August 14 or 15 at midnight. We don’t want any summer snakes or sharks."
Alvarez's interest in Barcelona appears to be somewhat of a U-turn, after the player's agent, Fernando Hidalgo, recently denied transfer speculation linking his client with the Liga rivals, calling the rumours "1000 per cent false" and "complete nonsense".
Alvarez, who has 49 goals in 106 games for Atleti, has been equally dismissive of speculation, telling reporters recently: “I try not to give too much importance to what they say, because the truth is that every week new things come out, all kinds of new information.
"I try not to waste energy on that and to focus on what we’re doing here at Atleti. I try not to give too much importance to what’s said in the media, because it often starts becoming a snowball of lies.
"I can’t keep going out to clarify or deny everything that comes out all the time."
