Arsenal target Julian Alvarez wanted by rival club as transfer approach emerges

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Barcelona are said to have made contact with their domestic rivals Atletico Madrid over an ambitious deal for Julian Alvarez with the club set to prioritise signing a new No 9 this summer.

Arsenal are known to be among Alvarez's many suitors , although Atletico are in a strong bargaining position given the 26-year-old is under contract until 2030. The striker's teams include a release clause set at a staggering €500m (£432.9m) - but that hasn't deterred interest from the reigning Spanish champions.

Barcelona head coach, Hansi Flick, is understood to have asked the club hierarchy for a new striker this summer and Alvarez is the man the La Liga giants want to team up alongside Raphinha and Lamine Yamal next season.

ESPN claim Barcelona have already made contact with Atletico in order to discover the club's stance on selling the player they signed from Manchester City back in 2024.

Though any prospective deal would fall some way short of the extraordinary figures in Alvarez's release clause, Barcelona would be willing to close a deal worth €95m (£82.2m) inclusive of add-ons. Atletico, on the other hand, are willing to counteract any proposals by offering Alvarez a lucrative new contract until 2032 to keep him at the club.

Barcelona have been plagued by financial difficulties in recent years and are currently operating just outside of La Liga's financial fair play rules, meaning there are limits on what they can spend.

However, the club 'hope to move within the league's regulations' this summer, which would potentially help facilitate larger spends, while Alvarez's willingness to transfer could also aid any potential deal.

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Barca are long-term admirers of Alvarez, who they scouted back in his River Plate days. The attacker is even viewed as the perfect long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski, who turns 38 later this year.

Arsenal's interest in Alvarez emerged back in January and they too could court the Argentine in the summer in a bid to boost their firepower.

The Gunners signed Viktor Gyokeres for a significant fee from Sporting Lisbon back in the summer but Kai Havertz was selected ahead of him in the pivotal meeting with title rivals Manchester City earlier this month, while there has been plenty of scrutiny over the Swede's tally of 12 goals in 32 Premier League games as well as his all-round performances.

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