Brief

Arsenal's Alvarez bid stalls as Atletico refuse, while United retain Carrick

Standard.co.uk details Arsenal's setback on Julian Alvarez, United's surprise retention of Michael Carrick, and other clubs' transfer targets ahead of the January window.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 28 Oct 2026 14:34:07 GMT

Standard.co.uk reported on 28 October that Arsenal's pursuit of Julian Alvarez has hit a roadblock, Atletico Madrid are refusing to negotiate, and Manchester United have opted to keep Michael Carrick as manager for the time being.

What happened

Arsenal explored a move for Argentine forward Julian Alvarez during the summer and remained in contact with his representatives after the window closed. According to reports from Spain, Atletico Madrid, who hold Alvarez's contract until 2030, have told Arsenal, Paris Saint‑Germain and the player himself that they will not discuss a transfer before the January window opens. The club also noted that Alvarez had previously favoured a switch to Barcelona, which Atletico rejected.

In a separate development, Manchester United announced a surprise reversal of earlier sack talks involving manager Michael Carrick. The club said financial considerations were the main reason for retaining Carrick for the foreseeable future.

What the reports add

Standard.co.uk added that Bournemouth chief Bill Foley reiterated the club’s desire to keep midfielder Alex Scott, despite Chelsea’s interest and a reported £100 million asking price. Foley told TalkSport, "At this point, we're convinced we're the right place for Alex to be and to stay, and we'll keep on addressing the contract issues with Alex as we move through this year. We'd love to have Alex stay here." The outlet also noted that Chelsea have focused on securing Scott, while Liverpool have also shown interest but ruled out selling Florian Wirtz for £116 million.

What was said

Bill Foley, Bournemouth owner, said to TalkSport, "At this point, we're convinced we're the right place for Alex to be and to stay, and we'll keep on addressing the contract issues with Alex as we move through this year. We'd love to have Alex stay here," as reported by Standard.co.uk.

How it came about

Arsenal's interest in Alvarez follows earlier reports on 2 October that the Gunners were linked with the Argentine forward after Barcelona stepped back. The club has also been linked with other targets such as Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland in recent weeks. Manchester United's decision to retain Carrick contrasts with earlier speculation about a managerial change, reflecting the club’s financial constraints ahead of the January market.

Key facts

Arsenal's bid for Julian Alvarez is blocked by Atletico Madrid ahead of the January window. (standard.co.uk)
Manchester United have decided to keep Michael Carrick as manager for financial reasons. (standard.co.uk)
Bournemouth owner Bill Foley says the club still wants Alex Scott to stay despite Chelsea interest. (standard.co.uk)