Barcelona prepare £87m Julian Alvarez bid as Arsenal face rival for striker

Barcelona are preparing a bid of approximately €100 million (£87m) for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, moving swiftly to reshape their forward line after agreeing a separate €80m (£69m) deal to sign Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon. The move puts Hansi Flick’s side in direct competition with Arsenal, who have also been tracking the 26-year-old Argentine.

The Athletic reports that Barcelona have already made contact with Atletico Madrid over Alvarez, with the Spanish club seeking to turn a profit on the £82m they paid Manchester City for the forward in the summer of 2024. Alvarez himself is said to be keen on the move to the Camp Nou.

The urgency at Barcelona stems from two departures in their attacking line. Marcus Rashford is returning to Manchester United following the end of his loan spell, while Robert Lewandowski has turned down the offer of a new contract, leaving Flick without a recognised centre-forward heading into next season.

Atletico manager Diego Simeone has made little effort to downplay the speculation. Speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal last month, Simeone acknowledged the interest from multiple clubs. “I’m not inside Julian Alvarez’s head,” he said. “It’s normal that an extraordinary player like Julian Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona. It’s normal because he’s very good.”

After Atletico’s 5-1 defeat to Villarreal on the final day of the La Liga season — a result that dropped them to fourth place — Simeone was again pressed on Alvarez’s future. “It’s not a question for me, it’s a question for Julian,” he told Movistar. “He’s old enough to know what he’s going to do, and I imagine he’s already made his decision.”

Alvarez, who scored 49 goals in 106 appearances for Atletico including two against Barcelona this season, has been characteristically guarded on his own plans. “Maybe yes, maybe no, you never know,” he said in March. “I’m very happy here. I’m focused on the day-to-day, working to improve and give my all. I never said anything bad about the club. I’m very grateful.”

The striker missed the final weeks of the La Liga campaign through injury and will be aiming to return to full fitness ahead of this summer’s World Cup, where he is expected to represent Argentina.