Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly eager to bolster their already formidable forward line with another world class talent.
Spanish daily AS are suggesting this morning that Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez is a major target for the European champions this summer.
PSG boss Luis Enrique is a known admirer of the Argentinian World Cup winner and attempted to take him to the Parc des Princes two years ago but Alvarez opted to join Atletico from Manchester City for £82million instead.
Alvarez has continued to shine at the Metropolitano. He scored 29 goals in 57 appearances in his first year in Spain and has added 20 in 49 games this season despite a wobble around the turn of the year.
The 26-year-old has long being linked with Barcelona, as they look to replace the ageing Robert Lewandowski, while Arsenal are also believed to be monitoring the player’s situation.
Atletico are believed to be willing to sell but only for a fee north of £100m.
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PSG target Alvarez insists he is happy at Atletico
Alvarez has repeatedly denied he wants out and recently described reports he was destined for Barca this summer as a “snowball of lies”.
Speaking before the first leg of Atleti’s Champions League semi-final against Arsenal, he said: “I try not to give too much importance to what they say, because the truth is that every week new things come out, all kinds of new information.
“I try not to waste energy on that and to focus on what we’re doing here at Atleti. I try not to give too much importance to what’s said in the media, because it often starts becoming a snowball of lies. I can’t keep going out to clarify or deny everything that comes out all the time.”
No house-searching in Barcelona for Alvarez
Federico Hidalgo, Alvarez’s agent, was also forced to rubbish claims Alvarez’s family had been spending time in Catalonia sizing up houses.
“No-one in the family has been in Barcelona. The last time was for the match against Atlético, and they returned to Madrid the next day,” he said.
PSG are certainly not in need of striking reinforcements with the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola, Goncalo Ramos and Ibrahim Mbaye all on the books.
But Dembele’s injury problems remain a concern while Ramos is likely to move on this summer.
ANAYLSIS: Alvarez would be another incredible option for PSG
It is frightening to imagine Alvarez lining up alongside the likes of Dembele, Doue and Kvaratskhelia. He is of a similar ilk, quick, creative and hard-working, the latter a must in any Luis Enrique team.
The difference between him and the others, though, is Alvarez is more of a natural striker, a goal-getter, while Dembele, Doue and Kvaratskhelia are more forwards who operate in wide areas but inevitably get goals due to PSG’s overall superiority over most teams domestically and in the Champions League.
If PSG were to get this one over the line, it would improve a squad that is already the best in Europe by some distance.
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