Mikel Arteta has told any Arsenal players unsettled by ongoing speculation over Julián Álvarez's possible arrival to "knock on his door" and find out the truth.
Sources have told ESPN that the Gunners are ready to make a club-record move for the 26-year-old should either Álvarez or Atlético Madrid indicate a willingness to consider a deal before Tuesday's transfer deadline.
Álvarez's preference is to join Barcelona but Atlético have strongly and repeatedly denied they would consider letting the striker to their LaLiga rivals.
Sources say Arsenal have held talks with Atlético and remain on standby but the situation is currently something of a stalemate. Álvarez missed training for the second consecutive day on Thursday with sources describing the Argentina international as "unwell."
Kai Havertz has started the season in fine style, netting in both the Community Shield win over Manchester City and Arsenal's Premier League opening victory against Coventry City.
Viktor Gyökeres was an unused substitute against Coventry and reports in Spain have suggested he could be used as a potential makeweight in a deal with Atlético for Álvarez, despite only signing for the Gunners from Sporting Lisbon last summer.
Asked how he is managing his current forwards amid the talk of a deal for Álvarez, Arteta said: "Very simple: whatever you read, if you have a question, come and knock on my door and I will tell you whether it is true or not because if, I don't know, in any position if they are reading and you put now the catalogue on all these walls about all the players that we wanted in the last three months, I think we'd need the whole building to put it on.
"They know there is so much speculation with a lot of players. If ever they feel the doubt of what we think of them and if we are going to recruit a player, I tell them straight away."
Pushed on whether any of his players had done so, Arteta said: "No. Normally I do it. So if we are going to sign somebody in their position, I normally tell them.
"This is the plan and this is the reason why we have the plans. 'We still believe the same in you but the competition is going to increase.' I prefer to do it that way."
Arteta refused to be drawn on whether he had spoken directly with Álvarez but revealed that Gabriel Jesus did not train with the first-team as he seeks a move away from the club.
Sources have told ESPN that Napoli are among the clubs under consideration. "It is something to do with the numbers that we have in the squad at the moment and the way we manage that kind of situation individually," Arteta said. "With all the players, they have some personal situations. Personal situations, whatever they are, I think it is clear."
- Atlético Madrid won't negotiate Álvarez transfer with Barcelona
- Álvarez misses Atlético training for second day running amid transfer saga
Gabriel Martinelli also left the club's Sobha Realty training base earlier than the rest of the group with sources suggesting he is close to a £50 million ($68m) move to Al-Hilal.
"That's another personal situation. I think everybody knows and recognises how much we love Gabi. Whatever the outcome is, it'll be because everybody agrees to that."
Bruno Guimarães could be in line to make his Premier League debut for Arsenal in Monday's trip to Aston Villa as he recovers from a groin problem.
"We just manage the last few days with him," Arteta added. "He's out on the pitch. He's been doing training sessions but we need to manage the load to get to Monday in the best possible condition to be able to get selected. He's potentially available [for Monday]."