Barcelona Make Financial Commitment To Sign Julian Alvarez And Deal Arsenal Huge Transfer Blow
Barcelona have made an internal decision to pursue Julian Alvarez until the summer transfer deadline, according to reports from Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.
Club president Joan Laporta has made the financial means available to push through a deal for the Atletico Madrid striker before the window closes.
The move carries significant weight given that Arsenal have also been strongly linked with the Argentine forward throughout this transfer window.
Plettenberg reported that Barca’s sporting director Deco is pushing hard for Alvarez and has no intention of abandoning the pursuit.
Head coach Hansi Flick has also fully backed the move, giving the transfer significant support from across the club’s football leadership structure.
Plettenberg’s post stated: “BREAKING | Understand FC Barcelona have made their decision internally: Julian Alvarez until Deadline Day or nothing! Hansi Flick fully supports the move. Deco is pushing for Alvarez and will not give up.”
He added: “Other strikers have been explored, but if Alvarez cannot be signed, Barca could end up signing no further striker unless an exceptional opportunity emerges on the market.”
Plettenberg also confirmed: “Joan Laporta has made the financial means available for the Alvarez transfer. It now depends on Atletico Madrid.”
The 26-year-old is expected to command a fee of around £128 million, a figure that both Arsenal and Atletico previously believed Barcelona would be unable to meet.
It has been widely reported that Alvarez himself only wants to move to Barcelona, making the prospect of an Arsenal deal increasingly unlikely regardless of finances.
This represents a considerable blow for Arsenal, who may have hoped to tempt the former Manchester City man to the Emirates Stadium if Barcelona could not fund a bid.
The situation at Atletico has also grown more complicated after Alvarez was booed by the club’s own supporters during their most recent match over the weekend.
Those fan tensions suggest his relationship with the Atletico support has deteriorated sharply, making it difficult for the club to justify keeping him even if they would prefer not to sell.
Selling to a direct La Liga rival is something Atletico would ordinarily resist, and Arsenal would represent a more palatable destination from a competitive standpoint.
However, the hostile atmosphere surrounding Alvarez at the club makes it harder for Atletico to dig in and hold out for a buyer outside of Spain.
Should the Atletico departure be confirmed, the Independent has suggested that Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres could be explored as a potential replacement option for the Madrid club.
Arsenal are unlikely to sanction any such deal for Gyokeres unless they secure a high-quality attacking signing of their own before the window shuts.
With Alvarez now appearing firmly on course for Barcelona, the Gunners face a race against the clock to identify and complete an alternative transfer at centre-forward.
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