Arsenal eye Julian Alvarez-Viktor Gyokeres swap deal, Real Madrid dealt setback in pursuit of Bayern Munich's Michael Olise

It was well documented that The Gunners missed out on one of their main targets in Alvarez during the summer transfer window, with Mikel Arteta understood to hold a long-term interest in the former Manchester City striker.

Alvarez, who made his desire to join FC Barcelona public, was not thought to be keen on a return to England and ultimately stayed put in the Spanish capital.

Atletico refused to sell the 26-year-old to Barca, but the Premier League champions were thought to stand a better chance.

According to Spanish outlet Diario Sport, Arsenal are set to test the waters again in the winter transfer window, using Gyokeres - who scored 21 goals last term but is struggling for minutes this season - as a makeweight.

The report reads: "Arsenal remain very interested in Julian Alvarez. The London club is closely monitoring the situation and would be very keen to negotiate a deal involving a swap with Gyokeres - a player who does not figure in their long-term strategic plans.

"Julian has made a decisive move, and developments are expected in the coming weeks, as the January transfer window is just around the corner and he wants to leave Atletico."

Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Michael Olise, but the Spanish giants expect him to put pen to paper on a new deal at FC Bayern Munich.

Olise has already scored eight goals in seven matches for Bayern this season, and netted 22 times last campaign while racking up an impressive 31 assists across all competitions.

The Frenchman could be in line for a huge new Bayern deal, making him one of the highest earners at the club.

Sky Sports in Germany brings the news, and the report reads: "Madrid, who are constantly linked with world-class players, also assume that the 24-year-old will extend his contract with Bayern Munich, which runs until 2029 – and, as a reminder, without a release clause. A move to Los Blancos is considered by Olise to be the only logical step that could dissuade Bayern from keeping the Frenchman long-term.

"However, should Real Madrid take no concrete steps in their favour, it is highly likely that the exceptional talent will remain with the German record champions – with a potential salary that could make him, alongside Jamal Musiala, the highest earner at FC Bayern. Only if a contract extension fails would Bayern have to consider a possible sale next summer."

Sticking with Bayern, who, according to Mundo Deportivo, are eyeing up a deal for Barca's Dani Olmo.

The Germans are thought to be keen on a move for the midfielder, who chalked up 18 goal contributions for the Liga outfit last season.

However, the move could hinge on possible departures at Bayern, like Olise, while Olmo is understood to be fully focused on Barca.

The report reads: "Dani Olmo is being closely watched by Bayern Munich. In fact, while Sky Sports reported weeks ago that the German club had the Barcelona midfielder on their radar to replace the potential departures of Michael Olise or Jamal Musiala, Mundo Deportivo has been able to confirm with sources close to the player that Bayern's interest in him is real, and not new. 

"Before his return to Barcelona in the summer of 2024, Bayern Munich had already shown strong interest in acquiring the services of the player from Terrassa, who was then at RB Leipzig. Despite this, the Catalan footballer, whose contract runs until 2030, remains focused solely on Barca and winning every possible title with the Blaugrana."

That is what Carlos Teves is hoping.

How would that happen, though? Well, former Manchester United and Manchester City star Tevez is set to have a farewell match at Boca Juniors' La Bombonera, and he wants both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi involved.

Tevez played alongside Ronaldo at Man Utd, and with Messi for the Argentina national team, and thinks he has discovered a rare chance of finally getting the two icons on the same team.

Infoebae reports the story, which reads: "The highlight of this event could very well be the clash between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who were team-mates of Tevez at different points in his professional career and will be personally invited by Tevez himself. His wish is that both will be part of the gala and even share the forward line on the World XI, which would face the Boca Juniors team that won the Intercontinental Cup in 2003 under Carlos Bianchi, defeating AC Milan in a penalty shoot-out.

"It would be an unprecedented event, since, aside from having starred in a series of classic Barcelona-Real Madrid matches in Spain, Messi and Cristiano have only faced each other twice at the national team level: Argentina's 2-1 victory in a friendly in Geneva in February, and the Albiceleste's 1-0 defeat in another exhibition match in England in 2014.

"At the beginning of 2023, just after the Argentine star lifted the World Cup in Qatar, they also faced each other during the Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia, when Messi's Paris Saint-Germain defeated a combined team of stars from Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, the main Saudi clubs, led on the field by Ronaldo, 5-4.

"Should he confirm his presence, Tevez's farewell match will mark the first time Messi and Cristiano have shared a team."

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