Premier League rival eye surprise Man City Julian Alvarez swoop

It seems the future of Julian Alvarez will become the ongoing unwanted distraction for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola during the final preparations for the new season, as reports emerge of a new interest in the striker from a Premier League rival.

MEN Sport understand Atletico Madrid have approached City a day after Argentina and Alvarez's exit from the Paris 2024 Olympics, while PSG are believed to be monitoring the situation without making anything official as yet. But now Arsenal are reportedly ready to jump in on any potential transfer opportunity for the 24-year-old.

The Gunners, notoriously prudent with their spending, have already outlaid for Riccardo Calafiori and the permanent switch of keeper David Raya from Brentford this summer, and would typically be reluctant to go anywhere near City's believed asking price of £80million.

However, with last season's second placed side still lacking an out-and-out finisher, the looming sale of forward's Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson, and boss Mikel Arteta's appreciation of the Argentine, Arsenal could make a rare expectation to boost their title chances. While a move to the rival that pushed City all the way to the Premier League trophy last term would seem close to madness, Alvarez would not be the first to make the switch in recent times, following both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus travels from the North West to London.

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It could all be a moot point, following Guardiola's comments after his side's 4-2 victory over Chelsea in their final US Tour pre-season contest, as he