Chelsea are reportedly gearing up to make a bid for Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez, who has expressed dissatisfaction with his role at the Etihad Stadium.
Alvarez, 24, joined City in the summer of 2022 but has largely played second fiddle to Erling Haaland, either as a substitute or in a deeper midfield position behind the Norwegian international.
According to Argentine media outlet TyC Sports, Alvarez is unhappy with his current situation and is considering his options for the summer transfer window.
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While Alvarez’s preference would be to secure a guaranteed starting role at City, this seems unlikely with Haaland in the picture. As a result, several clubs are preparing to test the resolve of the Premier League champions.
Chelsea is reportedly one of the clubs ready to make a bid for Alvarez. Atletico Madrid has shown interest, and Paris Saint-Germain has also added Alvarez to their list of potential replacements for Kylian Mbappe, who has moved to Real Madrid.
City has indicated that they are not eager to part ways with Alvarez but have set a price tag of €80 million (£68 million) for the 24-year-old. Under Pep Guardiola, the club’s stance has been that any discontented player will be allowed to leave if the conditions of the deal are suitable for all parties involved.
It’s worth noting that Alvarez’s former club, River Plate, will also receive a portion of any future transfer fee.
Chelsea fans have noticed midfielder Enzo Fernandez posting photos with Alvarez on social media recently. The two players, who previously played together at River in Argentina, are currently preparing for this summer’s Copa America.
Following the Copa America, Alvarez will participate in the Olympic Games. He has reportedly urged Guardiola to allow him to feature in the tournament as part of his quest for more playing time.