Arsenal look set to miss out on signing Julian Alvarez, with the Manchester City striker nearing a move to Atletico Madrid.
Alvarez admitted he was considering his future while playing for Argentina at the Paris Olympics, with the forward stating he "doesn't like being left out" of "important games" by manager Pep Guardiola.
"I haven't stopped to think about what I'm going to do," Alvarez said. "When this [the Olympics] is over I'll start thinking about what I want for myself. We'll see how things go.
"Last season I was one of the players who played the most minutes in the team. But it's true: in the end, in important games, you don't like being left out and you want to contribute."
Mirror Football understands that Arsenal were among the teams monitoring the situation, having previously signed the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from City. However, Atletico are the frontrunners to secure Alvarez's services as they look to sign a replacement for Alvaro Morata.
According to the Athletic, the Spanish side are 'close to striking a deal' for Alvarez, with the two clubs negotiating the 'final price and payment structure'. The report states that the transfer fee will be at least five times the £14million City paid for Alvarez in 2022.
The forward is said to be keen on a move to Spain and Guardiola has a policy of never preventing an unhappy player from leaving. Explaining his stance to Sky Sports earlier this year, Guardiola said: "How can you get the best from a player if he is not happy?
"If he is here for a contract, it does not work. People have to come here with passion, with love, to want to play and be happy to be here. I apply that to myself. If I am not happy, I will not be here. It does not matter about a contract.
"I think the players are happy here because how the club treats them is the best. But the players are here to play minutes and be happy. And normally when they do not play, they want to play. I understand completely. And they have to leave."
City have made just one signing so far this summer in the form of Brazilian winger Savinho, while the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Liam Delap, Sergio Gomez, Tommy Doyle and Lewis Fiorini have all been sold for significant fees.
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