Julian Alvarez has been regularly linked with a return to the Premier League and the Atletico Madrid star is once again attracting transfer interest
19:37, 27 Apr 2026
Julian Alvarez during an Atletico Madrid game
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Julian Alvarez is a transfer target for Arsenal(Image: Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Barcelona have made contact with Atletico Madrid over an ambitious deal for Julian Alvarez – with the club set to prioritise signing a new forward 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.
However, ESPN are reporting that Barca 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.
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Barca boss Hansi Flick is claimed 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.
ALvarez's contract is said to nclude a release clause set at a staggering €500 million (£432.9m) - but that hasn't deterred interest from the reigning Spanish champions.
Alvarez is set to come up against the Gunners in the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday nigh, and he moved to address speculation around his future on Monday.
Julian Alvarez
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Julian Alvarez has been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer(Image: Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
He said: "I can’t keep coming out all the time to clarify or deny things. I don’t give importance to what’s said on social media because it snowballs, so I focus on what I can do on the pitch.
"I try not to give it much importance because something comes out every week. I don’t waste energy on that, I focus on these matches and on doing my best for the team."
The 26-year-old has scored 19 goals and registered nine assists so far this season in all competitions, having made 47 appearances.
Alvarez has not played a single minute of Atletico's past four La Liga matches, but when asked about his fitness on Monday, he said: "I'm at 100 per cent."
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