Barcelona are in talks over a deal for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.The Catalan side are preparing a formal offer of around €100million for the 26-year-old and are using the agent Juanma Lopez to facilitate the deal, according to sources briefed on the matter. Barcelona have already made contact with Alvarez’s camp and are in discussions with Atletico, who are demanding a higher fee for the forward.Sources added that the player is keen on a move to Barcelona and do not expect personal terms to be an issue.The Athletic has previously reported that Alvarez was Barcelona’s top target this summer as they seek to sign a No 9 to replace Robert Lewandowski, who is leaving Camp Nou as a free agent.Alvarez’s Atletico contract runs until 2030, having signed from Manchester City for a fee of up €95m in August 2024.Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco are fans of Alvarez, and the club have monitored the Argentine’s situation for around a year.Arsenal also admire Alvarez, with Atletico head coach Diego Simeone confirming the Premier League club’s interest in the striker ahead of the two sides meeting in the Champions League semi-final stage in April.Alvarez scored 20 goals in 49 appearances for Atletico this season but was far more prolific in the Champions League (10 in 15) than La Liga (eight in 29). In 2024-25, he registered 29 goals in 57 matches.Barcelona, meanwhile, are also pressing ahead with an €80m move for Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon. Sources at Barca insist the deal for Gordon does not impact their pursuit of Alvarez. Gordon is travelling to Barcelona and is expected to undergo a medical later on Thursday.Gordon, 25, is likely to fill the role played by Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford in Flick’s squad during the 2025-26 campaign. Barcelona do hold a €30m option to buy Rashford, but it appears doubtful that they will press ahead with a move for the 28-year-old.Alvarez exit perhaps not surprisingAnalysis by Spanish football writer Dermot CorriganAtletico supporters will not be surprised at Alvarez potentially leaving the Metropolitano this summer, given how non-committal he has been whenever asked about his future through a 2025-26 campaign in which he scored some crucial goals in big games but also went long spells without scoring in La Liga.That included a slightly awkward mixed-zone appearance after his two goals in March’s 5-2 Champions League last-16 first-leg win over Tottenham Hotspur in March, when he replied “maybe yes, maybe no, you never know” when asked if he would still be an Atletico player next season.There have also been questions over Alvarez’s relationship with Atletico boss Diego Simeone — the former River Plate man has publicly spoken about how his favoured position is close to the goal as centre-forward, but his coach has often asked him to play a deeper role involving lots of off-the-ball defensive work.May 28, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms