Arsenal have been linked with two major transfer developments, but fans should keep the brakes on for now. Sky Sports’ Paper Talk item, published on 24 August 2026, rounds up newspaper claims rather than announcing completed business.
The report says Mikel Arteta could target Atlético Madrid forward Julian Álvarez. It also says Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli is nearing a move to Al-Hilal. At this stage, though, there is no confirmation from Arsenal, Atlético, Al-Hilal, Álvarez or Martinelli.
What Sky Sports reported
Sky Sports attributed the Álvarez claim to the Daily Mirror. According to that report, Arteta was ready to pursue the Argentina international in a deal worth £130m.
There was an important condition attached. The report said Arsenal’s move would depend on assurances that Álvarez wanted to join the club.
That does not mean an offer has been made, accepted or even formally discussed. The Paper Talk format is a roundup of stories from Tuesday’s newspapers, so the claim remains unconfirmed.
Julian Álvarez is only being linked
The key word here is “pursue”. It suggests possible interest, not a completed transfer.
Sky Sports’ roundup does not state that Arsenal and Atlético Madrid have reached an agreement. It does not say Álvarez has agreed personal terms, undergone a medical or announced any decision.
The reported £130m figure is also part of the newspaper claim attributed by Sky Sports to the Daily Mirror. Until one of the parties involved confirms progress, it should be treated as reported information rather than a settled price.
Gabriel Martinelli’s reported Al-Hilal move
In the same Paper Talk item, Sky Sports attributed a separate claim to the Daily Mail. That report said Martinelli was nearing a £55m move to Al-Hilal.
Again, “nearing” is not the same as done. There is no confirmation in the research brief that Arsenal and Al-Hilal have agreed the deal, or that Martinelli has completed a move.
The £55m figure is therefore also unconfirmed. It is a value reported in the Daily Mail story and repeated by Sky Sports in its newspaper roundup.
Why the two reports are being discussed together
The two claims appeared in the same Arsenal-focused Paper Talk item. One concerns a possible arrival at Arsenal, while the other concerns a reported departure.
That pairing naturally makes the story feel bigger, but the available evidence does not establish that the situations are connected. Sky Sports reported the claims from two different newspapers: the Daily Mirror on Álvarez and the Daily Mail on Martinelli.
So, for now, they should be viewed as two separate reports. There is no confirmed chain of events linking a Martinelli exit to an Álvarez arrival.
What has not been confirmed
No official announcement is included in the verified material. Arsenal have not confirmed a pursuit of Álvarez or a departure for Martinelli.
Atlético Madrid have not confirmed an agreement involving Álvarez. Al-Hilal have not confirmed an agreement involving Martinelli either.
There is also no confirmation from either player. That matters because the report on Álvarez specifically says Arsenal would seek assurances that he wanted the move.
The next point to watch
The next verifiable step would be a statement from Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, Al-Hilal, Álvarez or Martinelli. Until then, the story remains a pair of newspaper transfer claims carried in Sky Sports’ Paper Talk roundup.
Short version: Arsenal are being linked with Álvarez, while Martinelli is being linked with Al-Hilal. It sounds significant, but neither deal is confirmed.