Barcelona are in the market for a new striker this summer, especially with Robert Lewandowski’s likely departure confirmed. They aim to acquire a high-profile number nine to complement Ferran Torres. For months, their primary target has been Atlético Madrid and Argentina star Julián Álvarez.
While there was initial hope at Camp Nou for a deal, despite Atlético’s tough stance, recent weeks have seen a decline in confidence. Consequently, Barcelona have shifted their attention to Chelsea’s João Félix, viewing him as a more attainable signing.
According to Sport, Barcelona’s pivot to Félix is because they deem signing Álvarez “practically impossible.” The main obstacle is Atlético’s valuation, demanding well over €100-110 million for a player they acquired for €95 million from Manchester City two summers ago.
PSG’s pursuit complicates matters further for Barcelona
Adding to the difficulty, Paris Saint-Germain have recently entered the race for Álvarez, seeing him as an ideal addition to their formidable forward line. Even if the Argentine striker indicates a desire to leave this summer, Barcelona understands that the involvement of the Champions League finalists means Atlético would have little incentive to lower their asking price, as they could secure a significantly higher offer from PSG compared to what Barcelona could afford.
This summer is crucial for Barcelona to bolster their squad with the quality needed to mount a serious challenge for Champions League glory. However, persistent financial difficulties continue to hamper their transfer market operations. As a result, securing their desired targets, as is proving to be the case with Álvarez, presents a considerable challenge.
