Atletico Madrid are reportedly ready to pull out all the stops to persuade Julian Alvarez to remain at the club amid interest from Barcelona and Arsenal. The 26-year-old's future has become a hot topic of late as the summer transfer window looms.

Barcelona have been touted as a potential new home for Alvarez should he leave Atletico, but Arsenal and Chelsea are also said to be long-standing admirers of Alvarez and could be enticed to make a bid. The Gunners were previously interested in signing Alvarez before his move to Atletico in 2024.

However, Atletico, who hold the Argentine in high regard, are willing to make him one of the top earners at the club as an incentive for him to extend his contract, reportsMundo Deportivo. Atletico are now believed to be prepared to meet Alvarez's financial demands after initial hesitation, with a proposed wage of around €10 million (£8m) per year - a rise on the €7m (£6m) he currently pockets.

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The Colchoneros are reportedly confident he will pledge his long-term future to the club, a move that would make it significantly more difficult for Barcelona or Arsenal to lure him away.

Alvarez is contracted until 2030 and has a €500m (£432m) release clause, considerably less than the €100m (£87m) Barca are thought to be willing to offer.

The report also highlights that official discussions over a fresh contract have yet to commence, though Atletico remain hopeful that Alvarez and his family's successful settling in Madrid will prove a determining factor.

As for Arsenal, the Mirror's sister title in the capital, football.london, reports that interest is authentic and they are well placed should a chance emerge but any transfer would demand a significant fee, meaning player departures will be essential this summer if they plan to make a serious move.

Atletico manager Diego Simeone, a longstanding admirer of the Argentine, has previously emphasised just how vital the player is to his squad.

"A goal is always an incentive for strikers," he said.

"He's a very important player, recognised worldwide, wanted by lots of teams, but we have him and hopefully he can give us everything he's got, because he's a fantastic footballer."

Arsenal invested approximately £250m on seven new arrivals last summer and this time they're anticipated to reduce spending to guarantee they remain compliant with the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

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