Arsenal plot Julian Alvarez transfer back-up plan as £87m striker passes Mikel Arteta audition

Mikel Arteta seems keen to bolster his frontline in the summer transfer window, despite having already spent £64m on Viktor Gyokeres last year

Arsenal appear to have broadened their search for a new striker ahead of the summer transfer window. Despite forking out £64m to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting last year, the Gunners seem to be back in the market for a centre-forward.

football.london understands that Arsenal are interested in Julian Alvarez, and they're well-positioned to secure his signature should an opportunity arise. However, any potential move for the Atletico Madrid star would require a substantial fee, so the north Londoners may need to raise funds before looking to wrap up a deal.

Last month, Alvarez, who still has four years left on his contract, claimed that he's happy in the Spanish capital, but refused to rule out a move at the end of the season. When quizzed on the Argentina international's future, Diego Simeone bemoaned the speculation.

With the Atletico boss unlikely to let his talisman leave without a fight, Arsenal appear to have broadened their search for a new striker. According to Eric Depolo, the Gunners are interested in signing his client, Christian Kofane, from Bayer Leverkusen.

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The 19-year-old striker has played 39 times across all competitions this season, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists. Playing a key role in Kasper Hjulmand's side, he has helped the German outfit climb to sixth in the Bundesliga and reach the semi-finals of the DFB Cup.

Kofane featured in all but one of Leverkusen's games in the UEFA Champions League, scoring one goal and providing two assists. The Cameroon international faced Arsenal in the first and second leg of the last-16, but couldn't beat David Raya.

"Arsenal’s interest is genuine. The manager [Mikel Arteta] likes him very much," said Kofane's agent in an interview with Daily Arsenal. Depolo also claimed that Chelsea, Newcastle United, Everton, Brentford, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are interested too.

On what club is leading the race for the teenager, the agent said: "I think it is too early to say, but due to the fact that the player speaks Spanish, like Mikel Arteta, and that William Saliba is originally from Cameroon, I would say Arsenal are in pole position."

Depolo added: "There is contact between me and Arsenal. But their focus right now is to win the league. From there everything will start moving. He is a €100m (£87.3m) player. With Kofane, Arsenal will have a top striker for the next 10 years.

"I have never had as many calls in my life as now regarding Kofane. Right now, he is the best under-21 striker in Europe and the most complete one. He has speed, technique, defends very well and is strong in the air. It is very difficult to find all these attributes in one striker."

Arsenal have already lined up their first signing of the summer. When the Gunners signed Piero Hincapie on loan from Leverkusen last summer, they inserted an option-to-buy clause worth £45m.

At the time of his arrival, it was reported that a five-year contract was in place if the deal was to be made permanent. While Arsenal are yet to make an official announcement, Arteta all but confirmed his plans to keep the defender beyond this season.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Arsenal's 2-1 win over Chelsea last month, the Spaniard was asked whether he plans to sign Hincapie. He said: "I would say so.

"Let's go through the season. We have already discussed the possible outcomes that we have after that period.