Manchester United contact Julian Alvarez's agent as Barcelona and Arsenal chase Atletico star

Manchester United have entered the running for Julian Alvarez, with the club reportedly making direct contact with the Atletico Madrid forward’s agent as a crowded transfer pursuit gathers pace this summer.

According to Diario AS journalist Marcos Duran, United reached out upon assessing the situation surrounding the 26-year-old Argentine, with the club’s return to the Champions League cited as a factor in their ability to fund a deal.

The saga has been building for weeks. Real Madrid publicly confirmed a €150 million (£129m) offer was turned down by Atletico, while Barcelona also saw a triple-figure proposal rejected. Reports from Spain suggest Diego Simeone’s side have no intention of negotiating with Barca, which had appeared to leave Arsenal best placed — until United’s involvement emerged.

Alvarez has made no secret of his desire to move on. Speaking to ESPN while on international duty with Argentina at the World Cup, he said: “The best thing for me is a transfer and I want to fulfil my dream. I don’t want to hide or act like I don’t want to be clear. I try to be honest. I spoke to Atletico people and I think the best for everyone involved is for me to leave.”

The forward scored 36 goals in 103 appearances for Manchester City before joining Atletico, where he has since become the club’s talisman — a status that explains both the high asking price and the volume of interest.

Despite the Alvarez links, midfield remains United’s primary focus ahead of the 2026/27 season. A deal has already been agreed for Ederson to join from Atalanta, while West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes is another concrete target — though Tottenham have entered that race too and are considered more likely to meet West Ham’s asking price and the player’s wage demands.

Arsenal, also linked to Fernandes, now appear to have shifted their attention toward Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes. Both north London clubs have also been connected to Guimaraes’s Newcastle team-mate Sandro Tonali, with the Italian reported to prefer Arsenal but open to joining Spurs.