Arsenal chief inserted clever Julian Alvarez clause that could still aid Mikel Arteta's transfer plans

Arsenal's sporting director reportedly had a say in inserting a clever clause into Julián Álvarez's Atlético Madrid contract, with the move potentially benefiting the Gunners' pursuit of the striker this summer.

As he prepares for Argentina's upcoming World Cup defence, Álvarez's future remains the subject of speculation, with Barcelona, Arsenal and Real Madrid all linked with the Atlético Madrid striker.

Barcelona, who are looking to replace veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, have already seen a bid worth €100 million (£86.3 million) rejected by Atlético.

The Madrid club then responded by jokingly bidding for Lamine Yamal, taking to X to write: "We have sent a fax to FC Barcelona with our transfer offer: four tickets for tomorrow's Bad Bunny concert, an annual subscription to ABC, and a bag of sunflower seeds. We eagerly await the response to prepare the 'announce'."

European champions Paris Saint-Germain were also tentatively linked but appear to have turned their attention elsewhere.

Meanwhile, recently re-elected Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez pledged to offer "about €150 million (£129.4 million)" for a "great player" who is currently at a "major Champions League club", once again sparking speculation that he was talking about Álvarez before Spanish outlet SPORT suggested it may, in fact, be the Argentine.

SPORT suggests Los Blancos aimed to "prevent" arch-rivals Barcelona from signing the former Manchester City forward by recruiting him instead, although the reported €500 million (£431.3 million) release clause in his contract is expected to be a significant stumbling block in negotiations.

On Tuesday (June 9), Perez and Real took the unusual step of releasing a statement confirming that they had seen a bid of €150 million (£129.4 million) for Alvarez rejected by Atletico Madrid.

An official club statement read: “Real Madrid C. F. announces that, following the meeting of the Board of Directors held today, it has made an offer of 150 million euros to Club Atlético de Madrid for the federative rights of the player Julián Álvarez.

"After reviewing and evaluating the offer, Club Atlético de Madrid has expressed its gratitude for the proposal, made within the framework of the good relations between both clubs, and has rejected it, referring to the player's release clause.”

READ MORE: Arsenal make enquiry for 'future Ballon d'Or winner' set to feature at World Cup

Atlético are said to be angered by Barcelona and Real's pursuit of the player, despite reports that Álvarez has made it clear he would like to leave the club.

However, according to GIVEMESPORT journalist Ben Jacobs, the proposed €500 million (£431.3 million) release clause in Álvarez's contract contains "provisions for certain Champions League clubs", including Barcelona, which may allow them to sign Álvarez for closer to €150 million (£129.4 million), making a transfer significantly more viable.

Jacobs also reports that Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil and former sporting director Andrea Berta, who now works for Arsenal, inserted the provisions to allow Álvarez to leave for a "lower number than his official release clause" when he agreed to join from Manchester City in 2024.

The clause could yet see Arsenal, or another club, land Álvarez for the reduced price of €150 million (£129.4 million) rather than the initially reported €500 million (£431.3 million) release clause.

Álvarez has registered 49 goals and 17 assists in 106 appearances for Diego Simeone's side.

What has Mikel Arteta said about Arsenal’s summer dealings?

After Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to PSG on May 30, Arteta called on the club’s hierarchy to be “ambition and smart” this summer.

"First of all, I will take a few days with my family and then we will start the process to review what we have done," he said. "We will have to start making some very important decisions if we want to reach another level.

"We are going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it is going to demand us to be very ambitious, very fast and very smart."

Arsenal are currently linked with several players, including Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz, Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga, as well as PSG’s 18-year-old defender Emmanuel Mbemba.