Chelsea Pursues Julian Alvarez Amidst Competitive Interest

omidbasir- According to ESPN, Chelsea is making significant progress in negotiations to secure Julian Alvarez. The club has heavily invested in attacking players in recent transfer windows, having acquired Joao Pedro and Liam Delap in the summer of 2025.

The trend of significant spending in West London seems set to continue, with Chelsea attempting to bring Alvarez back to the Premier League. During his time at Manchester City, he won two top-flight titles and was part of their treble-winning squad in 2023.

Alvarez scored 36 goals in 103 appearances for City but found regular starting opportunities limited. His transfer to Spain was valued at up to €95 million (£83 million/$113 million), and it would require a nine-figure offer to persuade Atletico Madrid to sell.

Reports indicate that Chelsea is willing to offer €100 million (£87 million/$119 million) to finalize the transfer. Following the dismissal of Enzo Maresca, Liam Rosenior was left without funds to spend at the end of the winter transfer window. Therefore, the club is expected to have a budget available for the summer as they aim to secure Champions League qualification again, which would enhance their financial capabilities.

The highly-regarded Argentine international has netted 40 goals for Atletico in 88 matches and has also garnered interest from Arsenal, who are competing for the Premier League title in 2026. However, Mikel Arteta seems to be focusing on other areas of the squad for now, particularly midfield reinforcements, which opens a window of opportunity for Chelsea.

Discussions between Chelsea and Alvarez’s representatives are reported to have occurred, with agents traveling to England for a recent Chelsea match. Initial talks are said to have been positive.

ESPN journalist Jorge Baravalle stated, “While there is significant chatter regarding Barcelona and Arsenal, it appears that Chelsea is steadily progressing in their pursuit of Julian Alvarez. I’ve been informed that conversations are ongoing, particularly with representatives of his agency present in London for the Chelsea versus Arsenal game.”

Atletico Madrid is likely hesitant to negotiate with La Liga rivals Barcelona, especially given the latter’s financial struggles. Chelsea and Arsenal would be in a better position to generate the necessary funds for a potential deal.

Alvarez is under contract until 2023, which means Atletico is under no pressure to sell and is reluctant to approve a transfer, especially as the player himself has not indicated a desire to leave. When asked about the speculation surrounding his future, Alvarez remarked, “I try not to pay much attention to it. It’s all over social media, but I remain focused on my current season with Atletico Madrid and my development as a player.”

Atletico is currently striving for a top-three finish in La Liga and has advanced to the Copa del Rey semi-finals, where they will compete against Barcelona. Additionally, they are preparing for a Champions League knockout phase play-off against Club Brugge. Once the club season concludes, Alvarez will shift his focus to defending the World Cup title with Argentina alongside Lionel Messi and others.