Arsenal made a secret call to sign World Cup winner after Julian Alvarez snub
Arsenal fans were hoping to see Julian Alvarez join their club until the transfer window closed.
Mikel Arteta has been keen to sign the World Cup winner for over a year now, and there seemed to be a real chance at one point.
However, Alvarez made it clear that he did not want to return to the Premier League, and he has now stayed at Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal are without a new striker now, but they did try a late move to sign another Argentine.
Arsenal made a late move for Lautaro Martinez
Arsenal’s interest in Julian Alvarez made clear the type of striker they were looking for.
Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz provided the physicality and ability to hold the ball up at the top end of the pitch, so they didn’t need another similar option.
Arteta was looking for a much better version of Gabriel Jesus, and Alvarez checked all the boxes. But he wasn’t ready to join the Gunners.
The Daily Mail revealed that Arsenal knew they weren’t going to land the Atletico Madrid star a week ago, so they decided to explore a move for another target: Lautaro Martinez.
The report claims that Arteta’s assistant, Gabriel Heinze, made a phone call to his compatriot to try and lure him to the Emirates Stadium.
It is unclear how the striker responded, but Inter Milan were very clear.
The Nerazzurri reportedly told Arsenal in no uncertain terms that Martinez was not for sale. With three years left on his deal, they held all the cards.
The Gunners backed away and ended the summer window without a marquee attacker.
Arsenal have to act in the January transfer window
Martinez would’ve been an interesting signing for Arsenal, and Heinze’s secret phone call was well worth the try.
Nothing happened in the end, though, but the Gunners cannot sulk.
Arsenal should now give all they have got with the players they have, while Andrea Berta prepares a plan for the January transfer window.
The Italian has come under a lot of criticism for his actions this summer, and rightly so. He has to redeem himself in the winter with a top-class attacking signing.
