Viktor Gyokeres Arsenal swap deal dilemma and the £140m Julian Alvarez loophole

football.london explains how a swap deal involving Viktor Gyokeres could play out if Arsenal look to find a way to sign Julian Alvarez

The suggestion that Julian Alvarez is of interest to Arsenal is in no doubt, with Mikel Arteta a huge fan of the player football.london understands. However, how the Gunners get hold of the Argentinian is very much a mystery.

Despite the player wanting to take the next step in his career away from Atletico Madrid, it is not Arsenal where his desired next stop is. Barcelona is his dream destination, to follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.

However, Atleti are completely against any deal to sell Alvarez. So much so that in the last fortnight, the club’s CEO, Miguel Angel Gil, released a video statement to deter any suitors.

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“My opinion is clear, the club's will is clear, we have made it clear to the player, the agent, the president of Barça...” Gil explained in a video posted to Atletico’s social media feeds. “I have no doubt that Atlético is the place in the world for Julián and that Julián is the perfect striker for Atlético de Madrid.

“We want to continue counting on him. I recently heard the president say that the offer he made to Atlético de Madrid wasn't unlimited, and the only possible response is that our response is unlimited.

“We don't want to transfer him; we won't accept the €100million offer, nor will we accept one for €150million or €200 million (£170million).”

That being said, and despite the strong nature of Gil’s comments, there appears to be a chance of an exit happening. The latest reports concern the involvement of Viktor Gyokeres in any potential deal.

Atletico have an appreciation for the Swedish striker and any move would solve the void left by Alvarez, but it would require the Gunners to offer money. Typically, these transfers are not straight swap moves and instead to log a profitable sale on the books, each club will buy the other club’s player for a fee.

So if the deal for Alvarez would, in theory, cost Gyokeres plus a sum of £60million. If Gyokeres, hypothetically, had a market value of around £80million, up from the £64million the Gunners paid last summer, Atletico would sign Gyokeres for £80million, putting a profit and a large sale on Arsenal’s books.

Then, Arsenal would sign Alvarez for £140million which puts a big sale on Atletico’s books, and Arsenal have offset the signing, which effectively then becomes Gyokeres plus £60million.

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