Arsenal told to complete signing of 'outstanding' World Cup winner who could cost £80m

Arteta needs attackersArteta needs attackers
Arteta needs attackers | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal have been linked with a move for a World Cup winner this summer, and one pundit believes it would be a positive move.

Arsenal have been urged to consider a big-money deal for a former Premier League attacker this summer. The Gunners are in need of a couple of attackers this summer, with a striker and a winger required before the start of next season.

Mikel Arteta has resisted signing a striker until now, but he can resist no more, with Gabriel Jesus out with injury until late in the year, leaving Arsenal with just one starting striker remaining - Kai Havertz. A winger will also be required, with insufficient competition leading to Arteta failing to get the best out of his wingers last season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Gunners could move to sign a striker who can also play out wide, and Benjamin Sesko could fit that bill, but another player who has been linked is Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez. Alvarez has impressed with Atleti since demanding out of Manchester City, and a deal would be a very expensive one.

But former Premier League star Paul Dickov believes it would be a solid move for the Gunners. He told BestBettingSites.com: Julian's a top player. Obviously I’ve seen him up close a lot, with his time at Man City, where he was outstanding. He's gone away to Atletico and is banging in goals for fun. Julian is a world class player. He starts for Argentina all the time. So if any club did come in and sign him, he's going to be a major player for them as well.

“The one thing I will say about Julian is he's not an out-and-out number nine. You know, he can play there if he needs to. You look at him, his time at Atletico, he's played more often than not in the front two of a 3-5-2, with Griezmann or other players alongside him. He was frustrated a little with Erling Haaland leading the line, because it wasn’t always two up top. When they did play him, he was in a withdrawn role. He wouldn’t be cheap, either. City sold him for about £80 million, so Atletico are going to want to get big money for him. If he goes to Arsenal, he would be a huge player for them. It would be a major signing for Arsenal, but he won’t come cheap.”

What Alvarez has said

Alvarez has previously explained his decision to leave Manchester City, saying: “You always want to play in the most important matches. In the Champions League final, I didn’t come on. In the semifinal, I played just a little, and I would have liked to be in those kinds of games, When I spoke with Cholo (Diego Simeone) before the Olympic Games, he convinced me. He told me a lot about the club, not just about this season, but also about the coming years. And well… I liked it.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speaking about Atletico’s upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, he told FIFA’s website: “We know that this club has fans all over the world and we always feel their love and support on social media. There will most likely be Atlético fans over in the United States and it’s going to be a great occasion with them cheering us on.”

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice