Arsenal news: Julian Alvarez transfer deadline emerges as star signs contract

The summer transfer deadline is fast approaching, meaning the clock is ticking on Arsenal to complete any remaining pieces of business. In terms of incomings, this summer has been a successful sequel to last year's record-breaking window.

Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta has strengthened Mikel Arteta ’s squad by spending around £200million on five new additions . Piero Hincapie’s loan deal was made permanent for £34.5m, back-up goalkeeper Illan Meslier joined for free, winger Christos Tzolis arrived in a £34m deal, and Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa were signed for £75m and £55m, respectively.

They have been less successful on the sales front, however. Leandro Trossard ’s £17m exit and Gabriel Martinelli’s expected £50m move to Al-Hilal are hardly lofty sums for two important players in a title-winning squad. Berta has also struggled to move on the club’s deadwood, having settled for terminating Reiss Nelson’s contract on Thursday.

Nevertheless, a potential Gabriel Jesus deal to Atletico Madrid has been mooted as the Gunners look to pursue the Spanish side’s star player - Julian Alvarez - until the transfer deadline on September 1. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at two of the latest developments involving the north Londoners.

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Atletico have given Arsenal a deadline to sign Alvarez. According to Sky Sports , the La Liga side want their forward’s future resolved on Sunday, meaning the Gunners have just hours to convince him to return to the Premier League .

Alvarez’s dream move to Barcelona has been blocked by Atleti, with the club only entertaining offers from abroad and demanding £128m for the talisman. As it stands, Arsenal are the only realistic destination for the Argentine if he opts to leave the Spanish capital.

The 26-year-old held a five-hour meeting with his inner circle earlier this week to decide whether to stay at Atletico and repair his relationship with the fans, who booed him last weekend, or to join Arteta’s project. But transfer reporter David Ornstein told TNT Sports on Saturday that there was a low chance that the player would opt for Arsenal.

He added that Alvarez has shown no indication of wanting to join them until now, having spoken to Arteta and told the Spaniard he doesn’t want the move. Despite the transfer not developing as hoped, Arsenal are relaxed about the increasing possibility of going into the new season without signing Alvarez.

Marli Salmon has signed his first professional contract with the Gunners. The defensive wonderkid has spent seven years with the north London club and has now been rewarded with a professional deal, having turned 17 on Saturday.

The centre-back initially moved to Arsenal when he was in the Under-11s and played as a forward. But, since making his transition to defence, the promising teenager has impressed Arteta and was involved in the first-team squad last season as the Gunners clinched the title.

Salmon said after his landmark moment: "It means a lot to me. A lot of hard work went into this, a lot of ups and downs, but I'm so proud.