Mikel Arteta reveals message to Arsenal stars amid Julian Alvarez transfer saga

Gunners could make a major move for Atletico Madrid striker before deadline

Mikel Arteta has told his strikers to knock on his door and speak to him if they have any concerns over Arsenal's transfer business.

The Gunners continue to monitor Julian Alvarez and remain extremely interested in the forward, though there is little clarity over his situation with just five days left of the summer transfer window.

Alvarez wants to join Barcelona but Atletico Madrid have put out a string of statements insisting that they will not sell to their Spanish rivals.

That could yet open the door to Arsenal. The club are ready to make a big move for Alvarez, but only if they receive sufficient encouragement from the player's representatives.

It would also be an incredibly expensive signing, with Atletico holding out for a fee of around £130million.

There have been suggestions that Viktor Gyokeres could be included as part of any deal for Alvarez, while Gabriel Jesus is free to leave Arsenal during the final stages of the window.

As the rumours continue to build, Arteta has urged his players to come to him if they want to discuss transfer plans.

Transfer target: Arsenal could swoop for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez before the deadline

PA

"Whatever you read, if you have a question, come and knock on my door, and I will tell you whether it is true or not," the Arsenal boss said.

"Because if they read it and we put the catalogue on the walls about all the players that we wanted in the last three months, I think we would need the whole building.

"So I think they know that there's so much speculation with a lot of players. If ever they feel the doubt of what we think of them and if we're going to recruit a player, I tell them straight away."

Asked whether any player had come to him so far this summer, Arteta said: "No. Normally I do it.

"So if we're going to sign somebody in their position, I normally tell them. These are the plans and these are the reasons why we have the plans. We still believe the same in you, but the competition is going to increase. I prefer to do it that way."

Alvarez has been absent from Atletico training over the past two days due to a stomach bug.

It remains unclear whether he will be involved for Diego Simeone’s side against Sevilla in LaLiga this weekend, having been booed by his own fans when he came on last time out.

There have been reports in Spain claiming that Arteta has tried to call Alvarez in recent days, only for the forward to opt against speaking to him.

"You know I'm not going to make any comments about what is said publicly," Arteta said in response. "If so I would be having a different job."

Arsenal are still hoping that an opportunity could materialise before the deadline on Tuesday night, even while Alvarez continues to make it clear that he wants Barcelona.

During his Arsenal tenure, Arteta has insisted several times that he only wants to sign players who are desperate to join the club.

When quizzed on whether that stance would ever soften when it came to trying to secure one of the best players in the world, Arteta explained his process for pitching the club.

"Convincing, I don't know if it's the word," Arteta said.

"But obviously explaining what we are, what we are doing, how we expect a player to fit in within our club and our way of playing, his role in the team. That's certainly the case.

"And those players, normally, they don't come by themselves. They come with a team, whether it's a family, with people that work with them. So I think that whole ecosystem of the player has to be understood.

"Everybody around them, as well, has to feel that it's the right thing to do."