Julian Alvarez has not attended Atletico Madrid training since being told privately the club would not sell him to Barcelona and it appears the striker’s only way out is with a move to Arsenal.

Sources told BBC Sport that Atletico communicated privately to Alvarez and his advisors earlier this week that they will not negotiate with the Catalan club over a move for the Argentina international.

The 26-year-old has since missed two consecutive days of training citing illness.

The La Liga club also released two public statements in the space of 24 hours reiterating their stance that Alvarez will not be granted his wish to join Barca in the coming days.

Atletico, however, are open to selling Alvarez to Arsenal and have held direct talks with the Premier League champions over what would be one of the biggest transfers of the summer.

Atleti director Mateu Alemany was in London last week, where he is understood to have met with Arsenal counterparts – and made clear his side would seek a fee of 150m Euros (£128m).

Mikel Arteta is desperate to sign Alvarez this month but his steadfast desire to join Barcelona has seen Arsenal‘s pursuit halted.

However, it is understood discussions between Atletico and Arsenal over a club-to-club agreement for Alvarez have been positive.

Indeed, in the event of Alvarez giving Arsenal the green light to proceed with his signing in the coming days, a deal should move quickly.

On Wednesday, in response to comments from Barcelona president Joan Laporte in which he insisted they still wanted to sign Alvarez, Atletico released a statement that read: “There is 0% chance of selling him to Barca.”

The Atleico board doubled down on their stance on Thursday, releasing their own statement that read: “The members of Atletico de Madrid’s board of directors have unanimously expressed their absolute support for the club’s decision to not negotiate the transfer of Julian Alvarez to FC Barcelona.”

Leyton Orient have criticised Wrexham and their celebrity owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, for creating a badge on their new kit which mirrors their own.

Wrexham unveiled their cream third strip on Wednesday, and received the Hollywood seal of approval with pictures of Reynolds and Mac modelling it on the club website.

But it was a new-look badge which raised eyebrows as Wrexham deviated from their traditional crest of two red dragons facing inward, a golden football, the Prince of Wales feathers with a coronet and motto, and Welsh flag colours.

Instead, the badge was replaced with two wyverns or dragons facing each other over a football, and looking remarkably like the crest of Orient.

The wyvern is the defender of the Thames in mythology and of the sea, through the old Orient Shipping Company, and adorns the badge introduced by the League One club in 1976.

Orient criticised Wrexham’s badge on their social media by asking: “What you playing at @VancityReynolds @RMcElhenney?, alongside a video of former England manager Roy Hodgson using colourful language.

Leyton Orient’s criticism comes after Wrexham pulled an anthem jacket from its club shop following swift backlash from fans over the use of a white dragon emblem.

Arsenal summer signing Ezri Konsa could be set to make his debut against his former club Aston Villa on Monday night, Mikel Arteta says.

The 28-year-old completed a £51million move to Arsenal last week from Villa Park, where the England international had played since 2019.

“He’s available. He’s been training really well so I think he will be available for selection,” the manager said in a press conference on Thursday afternoon. The Premier League champions will take on Unai Emery’s side in their second league game of the season away from home.

“That’s nothing that concerns me,” Arteta added on Konsa returning to Villa Park. “If I see something different in the player, maybe I question that.

“(But) the way I have seen Ezri from day one, knowing his personality well and with all the feedback I get from the people who have worked with him, that’s nothing that concerns me.”

If Konsa is to start, he could displace Ben White at right-back or Cristhian Mosquera, partnering with Gabriel, who both started in the opening-day 3-0 victory over Coventry City at the Emirates.

Arteta said Bruno Guimaraes is “potentially available,” but the club has managed his training over the last few days due to a groin injury.

“He’s out on the pitch, he’s doing training sessions,” the manager said. “But we need to manage a lot to get (Guimaraes) to Monday in the best possible condition to be able to get selected.”

The summer signing played the first half in Arsenal’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City but wasn’t in the squad against Coventry.

As for Gabriel Jesus, the Brazilian forward was not involved in training on Thursday. Jesus’ contract at Arsenal expires in June 2027.

“It’s something to do with the numbers that we have in the squad at the moment and the way we’re managing that kind of situation individually with all the players that have some personal situations,” Arteta said.

Gabriel Martinelli is another potential departure, with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal pursuing a deal for the 25-year-old forward. Martinelli was seen leaving Thursday’s training ahead of the other players by members of the media.

“Again, that’s another personal situation that we are dealing with,” Arteta added. “Everybody knows and recognises how much we love Gabi. And whatever the outcome is, it will be because everybody agrees to that.”