Arsenal's Alvarez Chase: A Pipe Dream? Tzolis Emerges as Trossard Successor

So, Arsenal's talking. Sky Sports tells us initial discussions happened, ownership level, even. The lines are open. Funny, their sporting director Andrea Berta used to run things at Madrid before his Emirates move. Maybe that helps.

But let's be real. This deal? It's a long shot. Atletico doesn't want to sell, plain and simple. And the valuations? Miles apart. Worse for Arsenal, Alvarez fancies Barcelona. Their president, Joan Laporta, already put over £100m on the table. Sources in Spain whisper it could even climb to more than £110m, plus bonuses.

Atletico's playing hardball. No surprise, given their nasty spat with Barcelona. CEO Miguel Gil Marin called the Catalans "disrespectful." Laporta, bless him, thinks Atletico's refusal is just about finding a replacement. As if. Real Madrid tried with £130m. Rejected. That tells you all you need to know.

Word on the street, from Sky Sports News anyway: Atletico might actually be okay with Arsenal or PSG getting Alvarez *if* he pushes to leave. That's a big 'if'. The snag? His family. They're settled in Spain. That's a deal-breaker for most, and it's certainly weighing heavily here.

So, Plan B. Arsenal's eyeing Tzolis. The Club Brugge winger. Trossard's off to Besiktas for £17m, leaving a hole to fill. Brugge wants £34m for Tzolis. Belgian Pro League record, that. Pricey, but maybe more realistic than the Alvarez saga. No formal club-to-club chat yet. Just sniffing around, getting a feel for the numbers.