The Arsenal link is easy to understand. Even after a strong start to the season, other reports have suggested the squad may still be one elite forward short of complete certainty in the biggest games.
Alvarez would fit that conversation because he appears to offer:
That matters for a side already built around Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz. Arsenal do not lack structure. They may still want one more attacker who can change the rhythm of a tight match.
Any move, though, would depend far more on Atletico Madrid than on Arsenal’s interest alone. Reports suggest the Spanish club may now be more open to a sale than previously thought, but that is still a long way from a deal being close.
That is the theme with late-window striker stories:
The Minteh situation tells a different story. The update says Brighton have rejected a second bid from Liverpool and are demanding £70m. That points to a selling club with no intention of being pressured.
For Liverpool, it also matches the wider mood around the squad. Other reports suggest the starting XI is strong, but depth and attacking variety remain part of the market conversation.
The next few days should reveal whether these are serious pursuits or familiar late-window pressure plays. For Arsenal, the question is whether Alvarez becomes a genuine push. For Liverpool, it is whether Brighton’s stance over Minteh softens at all before the next big round of fixtures and the closing stretch of the window.