Curtains for Jesus as Arsenal identify dream summer transfer target worth £100m

Arsenal were hoping that this summer would solve their search for a new centre-forward. However, Viktor Gyökeres' performances so far have merely raised more questions than answers.

On Tuesday night, as Mikel Arteta's team beat Inter 3-1 in the Champions League at San Siro, the Swedish striker came off the bench to curl home the clinching third. This was his ninth goal in red and white, albeit only three of these have come since 1 November at Turf Moor.

So, could Gabriel Jesus start Sunday's heavyweight Premier League clash with Manchester United? The fit again Brazilian scored the other two goals at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza this week, having previously netted during the demolition of Aston Villa just after Christmas.

Nevertheless, neither Gyökeres nor Jesus, and you can include Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino in this discussion, appear to be the dream centre-forward this team is searching for. Thus, could Arteta enter the transfer market come the summer and snap up one of the world's very best?

Arsenal chasing a new centre-forward

According to a report by ESPN, Arsenal are "exploring the possibility" of signing Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez. The Argentine striker joined Atleti from Manchester City in the summer of 2024 for a reported fee of £82 million, back when Andrea Berta was still the sporting director in the Spanish capital.

Since then, Álvarez has scored 40 times in 85 outings for los Colchoneros, including a double during September's 5-2 derby victory over Real Madrid, featuring a stunning free-kick. However, with Diego Simeone's side eight points adrift La Liga leaders Barcelona, the 25-year-old could push for a move.

His release clause is believed to be €500 million, which is unrealistic, but Atleti would seek to recoup more than what they paid to sign him, at least £100m, meaning he would become one of Arsenal's most-expensive signings of all-time.

Arsenal's all-time most-expensive signings

So, would Álvarez be worth it? Well, he is Premier League proven, having scored 36 times during his Manchester City career, albeit none of these came against Arsenal.

For Atleti, even when Simeone's side is struggling, he has been the man to come to the fore, bagging 11 Champions League goals for the Rojiblancos in just 16 games. He is actually currently without a goal in nine league matches, this representative of the team's downturn in form overall.

Stylistically, Álvarez appears to tick every box Arteta is looking for. He possesses Jesus' dynamism, Gyökeres' penalty box presence, Merino's finishing instincts and Havertz's world-class link-up play.

Thus, he really would be the dream striker in this system and, with Jesus out of contract, having also changed agents this week, Álvarez's potential arrival would surely be the end of the Brazilian's time in North London.