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  "path": "/2026/02/18/julian-alvarez-makes-decision-arsenal-chelsea-man-utd-transfer-26967646/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-18T09:35:30.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Arsenal",
    "Arsenal transfer news",
    "Atletico Madrid",
    "Chelsea FC",
    "Chelsea transfer news",
    "FC Barcelona",
    "FC Barcelona transfer news",
    "Julian Alvarez",
    "La Liga",
    "Liam Rosenior",
    "Manchester United",
    "Manchester United Transfer News",
    "Michael Carrick",
    "Mikel Arteta",
    "Premier League",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
    "Chelsea",
    "agreed to spend over £80m on Alvarez",
    "Manchester City",
    "Sign up here",
    "signed Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting last summer",
    "questioned if he has the all-round game to lead the line for Arsenal",
    "believed to be interested in signing a new striker in the next transfer window",
    "remain over £74m summer signing Benjamin Sesko",
    "since Ruben Amorim was sacked last month",
    "believed to stand at around £100m",
    "https://www.instagram.com/p/DUrRIdujCcH/?img_index=1",
    "urged the Gunners to sign ‘really special’ Alvarez",
    "Ignition Casino",
    "check our sport page",
    "Facebook",
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    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source"
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  "textContent": "Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez (Picture: Getty)\n\nManchester United have joined Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in the race to sign Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, according to reports in Spain.\n\nAlvarez has been strongly linked with a return to England ahead of the summer transfer window after spending the last two seasons in Madrid.\n\nEyebrows were raised when Atletico agreed to spend over £80m on Alvarez, who was only a squad player at Manchester City.\n\nBut the Argentine enjoyed a productive first season under Diego Simeone, scoring 29 goals in all competitions.\n\nAlvarez has been less effective this term, ending a run of 11 games without a goal with his 12th of the season in Atletico’s stunning 4-0 Copa del Rey win over Barcelona last week.\n\nThe 26-year-old World Cup winner remains one of the most highly-rated forwards in Europe, however, and is attracting interest from a number of top clubs ahead of the summer.\n\nArsenal and Chelsea have both been heavily linked with moves for Alvarez, who scored 36 goals across his two seasons at Man City, winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League and FA Cup.\n\n##  Get your football fix\n\nDon't want to miss the week's biggest football stories? **Metro's** exclusive football newsletter, In The Mixer, is your essential guide.\n\nFrom the latest transfer rumours and managerial moves to analysis of the biggest games and a lot more, our experts have you covered.\n\nSign up here, it's an open goal.\n\nAlvarez spent two years at Manchester City (Picture: Getty)\n\nPremier League leaders Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting last summer but the Sweden international has had a mixed first season at the Emirates Stadium.\n\nWhile he has started banging in the goals since the turn of the New Year, a number of pundits have questioned if he has the all-round game to lead the line for Arsenal.\n\nChelsea, meanwhile, spent almost £100m on Joao Pedro and Liam Delap last summer but are still believed to be interested in signing a new striker in the next transfer window.\n\nAccording to Spanish outlet Sport, Manchester United have also registered an interest in signing ex-Manchester City forward Alvarez.\n\nSeveral Premier League clubs are eyeing a deal (Picture: Getty)\n\nDoubts remain over £74m summer signing Benjamin Sesko despite his upturn in form since Ruben Amorim was sacked last month.\n\nAlvarez is aware he is the subject of transfer interest from multiple Premier League giants but has made Barcelona his ‘preferred option’ should he leave Atletico Madrid.\n\nBarca have been linked with a move for well over a year and reports in Spain say Alvarez would ‘welcome’ the chance to move to the Nou Camp.\n\nA deal between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid is seen as ‘extremely complicated’, however, partly due to their La Liga rivalry but also because of his huge asking price, which is believed to stand at around £100m.\n\n> https://www.instagram.com/p/DUrRIdujCcH/?img_index=1\n\nIn response to the transfer rumours, Atletico have already started efforts to get Alvarez to sign a new contract and commit his long-term future to the club.\n\nHis current deal does not expire until the summer of 2030 but Atletico know a new contract extension would ‘put an end once and for all’ to speculation over Alvarez’s future.\n\nEarlier this week ex-Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit urged the Gunners to sign ‘really special’ Alvarez, insisting it would be a ‘statement’.\n\n‘When Julian Alvarez was playing for Manchester City, I really liked him,’ Petit told Ignition Casino. ‘He didn’t start every single game but every time he played for City, and for Atletico as well since, he has been really special.\n\nArsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres last summer (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘He can score goals and give assists, but he’s got temper, personality, and character. I think in terms of movement he is very intelligent.\n\n‘Physically as well, he’s a top player and technically, he’s got everything to suit the best clubs in Europe.\n\n‘The reason why he left City was because he wanted to play regular football, but I think Pep Guardiola would be very happy to have him back in the squad.\n\n‘So definitely, if Arsenal have a chance to get him, with the connection with the Spanish players and the way they play up front, I think that would be great news for Arsenal.\n\n‘That would be a very, very good addition to the squad and a statement.’\n\nAtletico Madrid face Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs on Wednesday night before returning to La Liga action this weekend against Espanyol.\n\nAtletico and Simeone’s title hopes are already all but over, with the club slipping 14 points behind La Liga leaders and local rivals Real Madrid with 14 games remaining.\n\n**For more stories like this,check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook, **Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments  Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source ",
  "title": "Julian Alvarez makes decision over Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd transfer"
}