Representatives from Barcelona are reportedly set to visit Argentina to open talks with River Plate to secure the signature of Julian Alvarez.
According to a report by Argentine outlet TNT Sports Argentina, Barcelona will begin negotiations to discuss a move for Julian Alvarez. Representatives from the Catalan club are set to visit Argentina to initiate discussions with River Plate over a possible transfer for the 21-year-old striker.
Julian Alvarez has established himself as one of the most sought-after strikers in the world on the back of a stunning 2021 campaign with River Plate, which ended with the league campaign. The 21-year-old amassed 21 goals and 14 assists in 44 appearances across all competitions.
His exploits have been noticed by some of the biggest clubs in Europe, with the likes of AC Milan, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid all keen on signing him. However, the first club to have stepped up the efforts to sign the Argentine striker appears to be Barcelona.
The interest from Barcelona makes sense, as Sergio Aguero is unavailable for an indefinite period after being diagnosed with a heart condition. The issue will require specific treatment for months, leaving Xavi with Martin Braithwaite and Luuk de Jong as the only recognised strikers at his disposal.
However, Braithwaite is only a backup option at best, while de Jong has been a dud since arriving on loan from Sevilla in the summer transfer window. Barcelona’s need for a striker has been accentuated in such a scenario, with several targets identified in recent weeks, including Alvarez.
But the Catalan giants have received a blow in pursuit of some of their key targets like Sebastien Haller and Karim Adeyemi. That is perhaps why Barcelona’s priority has seemingly become Alvarez, with representatives from the club set to open talks with River Plate over a possible transfer.
The discussions will get underway on Monday, and it will be interesting to see if the talks yield a positive result in pursuit of the 21-year-old. For now, it looks like Alvarez has become a key target for Barcelona, and it remains to be seen if their search for a reliable striker ends with the capture of Alvarez.
