Las Palmas defender Scott McKenna challenges Atletico Madrid forward Julien Alvarez during the La Liga match at the Metropolitano stadium. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Las Palmas defender Scott McKenna challenges Atletico Madrid forward Julien Alvarez during the La Liga match at the Metropolitano stadium. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Liverpool were linked with a host of strikers last summer and one of them has been linked with Barcelona.
Liverpool shocked football last season when the signed not one, but two elite strikers, spending over £200m in the process.
Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak couldn’t have enjoyed more contrasting seasons with Arne Slot reminding everyone recently how little the Anfield faithful had actually seen the big Swede. It looked all summer as if Isak was the one at the top of the shopping list and that he would be the main man, only for a quickfire deal for Ekitike to be signed. That felt like the end of the Isak transfer with other, less expensive names mentioned at the time.
Liverpool target eyed by Barcelona
One of those was Julian Alvarez who at £82m was around £40m cheaper than Isak. According to The Athletic, any thoughts of a move to Liverpool look to be over with Alvarez attracting attention from another European super club. With Robert Lewandowski set to leave Barcelona, the La Liga leaders are on the look-out for a new striker to lead the line.
The Athletic reckons that: “Those behind the scenes assume that Barca will try to sign Alvarez, and the Catalans believe the 26-year-old is keen on the prospect of joining them. Club sources are also confident Barca will be in a financial position to make a reasonable offer to Atletico.”
With Alvarez under contract until 2030, Atletico will be in no rush to sell, especially not to a league rival. To make matters even more complicated, Diego Simeone is a huge fan of his no.19.
Why Atletico Madrid won’t let Alvarez leave cheaply
Last summer, Simeone named the teams interested in Alvarez with Liverpool joined by several others, manager Simeone said: “Every club wants to sign Julián Álvarez. It’s logical. I can’t imagine it any other way. Of course, every top club wants him—Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, Liverpool… all of them. And for us, for Atlético fans, it should be a point of pride that everyone wants him.
“Why? Because he’s ours. And since he’s ours, we need to protect him. We have to make sure he feels happy. And how will he feel happy? By winning. And to get there, we all need to give 110%. Not just for him, of course—for everyone. He is 25-years old, an extraordinary player—hungry, humble, hardworking, a goal-scorer, and full of class.” With Ekitike and Isak on the books, it doesn’t look like Alvarez will be swapping the red of Atletico for the red of Liverpool.
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