Odds revealed: Julian Alvarez’s chances of joining Arsenal or Chelsea as Atletico Madrid exit looms
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Credit: Imago Odds revealed: Julian Alvarez’s chances of joining Arsenal or Chelsea as Atletico Madrid exit looms Wed 25 February 2026 12:34, UK Arsenal and Chelsea are two of the frontrunners to sign Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez according to one of the UK’s leading bookmakers.Alvarez has been heavily linked with leaving the Spanish giants this summer, with no shortage of suitors across Europe if he pushes to depart.Atletico are set to stand firm in their desire to retain his services, though, and want him to agree a new big-money deal to dissuade those interested clubs.He has been a regular starter for Diego Simeone’s side since joining from Man City in 2024, with 13 goals and seven assists in 40 appearances so far this season.Football Insider have revealed that Arsenal and Chelsea are both interested in a move for Alvarez ahead of the summer, and they are each priced as frontrunners to land his services if he does leave the Spanish capital.Credit: ImagoRead more: Julian Alvarez to Arsenal: Club ‘ready to break bank’ to agree dealChelsea and Arsenal in bookies’ top three contenders to sign Julian AlvarezArsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres to solve their striker problems once and for all last summer, and despite some decent showings, he has not truly hit the heights expected of him so far this season. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES The 27-year-old has scored 15 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners, while the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have struggled with injuries.Premier League rivals Chelsea have also had some striker issues this season, with Joao Pedro finding form in recent weeks after a slow start, while Liam Delap has scored just three goals in 31 appearances since joining from Ipswich Town.Both sides are keeping tabs on Alvarez’s availability ahead of the summer, with one of the UK’s leading bookmakers now offering a market on which club he will be contracted to after the transfer window closes.Arsenal are second-favourites in terms of other clubs he could join, at odds of 6/1, while Chelsea are slightly behind them, at 8/1 odds to be his next side.Read more: Revealed: Julian Alvarez decides his next club amid Liverpool and Arsenal interestAlvarez would prefer to stay in Spain and join BarcelonaDespite interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as links to Liverpool, Alvarez looks more likely to stay in Spain even if he does leave Atleti this summer.He has already spent two years in the Premier League with Man City, where he won every trophy on offer other than the Carabao Cup, and a return has been ruled out as he does not want to play second fiddle to Erling Haaland once more.Sources have told Football Insider that Alvarez would prefer to join Barcelona ahead of any other club this summer, with his dislike of the English weather also known to be a factor.It is unclear, however, if Barca would be able to afford a mega-money deal to sign the World Cup winner, but they are ahead of every other team in the current bookmakers’ odds too, at 5/1 to be his next club.