Football transfer rumours: Alvarez set for Arsenal after being booed at Atlético?
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The Guardian's football transfer rumour column rounds up speculation across Europe, with Julián Álvarez central after being booed by Atlético Madrid fans during their draw with Villarreal; he is reportedly now weighing a move to Arsenal, with Barcelona said to lack the funds to compete for the Argentina forward. Elsewhere, Barcelona's decision to leave Alejandro Balde out of their squad has fuelled talk of a Manchester United switch, while Crystal Palace are said to be preparing a £50m bid for West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen despite his recent pledge of loyalty to the relegated club.
Further reported interest includes Aston Villa targeting Club Brugge's Joel Ordóñez, Sunderland chasing Barcelona's Marc Casadó for around £34m, and Chelsea-owners BlueCo eyeing Cruzeiro's Jonathan Jesus amid competition from Strasbourg, Real Betis, Valencia and Benfica. Chelsea are also said to be open to selling striker Marc Guiu to Napoli, though the Italian club view the £25m asking price as too high, while Hull City, fresh from beating Manchester United, have agreed a £15.4m deal for Nice's Mohamed-Ali Cho, and Newcastle's Joe Willock is linked with a move to Besiktas despite scoring against Liverpool.
- Julián Álvarez reportedly eyeing Arsenal move after Atlético fans boo him
- Crystal Palace said to be lining up £50m bid for West Ham's Bowen
- Hull agree £15.4m deal for Nice forward Mohamed-Ali Cho
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Chelsea, Napoli, Hull City, Newcastle and several other clubs are all mentioned as being involved in football's ongoing transfer speculation, where journalists and outlets report claims about players who might move clubs, though these deals are unconfirmed and often do not happen. The window in question typically runs over the close season and January, when clubs can buy and sell registered players, so rumours tend to multiply as teams look to strengthen their squads.
The central figure is Julián Álvarez, an Argentine forward currently at Atlético Madrid in Spain, who is reportedly considering a move to Arsenal, an English Premier League club, after facing criticism from his own supporters. Barcelona have also been linked with him but are said to face financial constraints that put them at a disadvantage against Arsenal in any pursuit.
Other names in the mix include West Ham's Jarrod Bowen, wanted by Crystal Palace, and Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde, linked with Manchester United, illustrating how transfer talk usually spans many clubs and leagues simultaneously rather than a single story. None of these moves are confirmed, and reports like these are compiled from various media sources of varying reliability, so they should be read as speculation rather than fact.
More coverage
- The Guardian — Julián Alvarez walks alone at Atlético in transfer saga with no end – and no winners | Sid Lowe
- BBC Sport — Alvarez's Arsenal dilemma amid summer's most bitter transfer tussle