Chelsea and Manchester United have been warned that pursuing a deal for Julian Alvarez is not going to help them of their bid to catch Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Alvarez has spent the last two seasons at Atletico Madrid after joining from Manchester City for £82million, but has been strongly linked with a return to England ahead of the summer transfer window.
Arsenal and Chelsea have each been heavily linked with moves for Alvarez, who won the league twice with City, while reports in Spain suggest that United are also keen on the Argentine.
Despite a comparatively goal-shy yr in Diego Simeone’s side, it is claimed that Atletico will demand in excess of €100million (£86m) for any club trying to prise Alvarez away from the Spanish capital.
Nonetheless, former Premier League midfielder Andy Townsend just isn’t convinced that spending that sort of money on the 26-year-old is the sort of signing that may help Chelsea and United close the gap on the present league leaders.
‘I like Julian Alvarez and I do know he’s scored goals at Atletico Madrid but I’ve never quite seen him as someone who would make the difference for anybody else at the highest of the Premier League to actually kick on and go and grab the league out of Arsenal’s hands,’ he told Boyle Sports.
‘He’s clearly a clever footballer. He’s finisher. He had that sensible knack for coming on and making the difference for City.
‘But I don’t know if he’s got enough to are available in and play because the starting striker within the Premier League and be the difference for a few of those teams attempting to close the door on Arsenal. I don’t quite see that.’
Nonetheless, Townsend did concede that a scarcity of world-class strikers out there may force clubs to pay over the percentages for a player like Alvarez somewhat than take a risk on developing a younger attacker.
‘So many persons are at all times searching for that individual. Who’s going to are available in and do what Harry Kane has done at Bayern Munich or what Erling Haaland does for City?’ he added.
‘There aren’t many on the market, you recognize. Return to my era and we could have had an hour on one of the best strikers in world football but they’re just not on the market now because only a few players can play the best way Haaland does where he doesn’t get so involved in the final play.
‘Only a few can play like that, not be involved and still get those devastating numbers that he does. Serie A used to at all times have a glut of top class strikers but they’re not there anymore in Italy.
‘Kylian Mbappe is spoken for but I still query when we’re going to see him at his best in a Real Madrid shirt because I don’t think he’s been anywhere near his top level for them yet, even with the numbers he’s got. He’s still probably the last word number nine of the fashionable game.
Would Alvarez be signing?
Yes – he’s top-of-the-line strikers on this planet
No – he is not quite what either club needs
‘I believe there are very, only a few on the market that will tempt you to spend over £100 million and perhaps that’s why there’s a lot speak about Julien Alvarez.
‘He might get a gig somewhere because while you actually sit and analyse it, you’ve either got to go and pay over the percentages for Alarez or spend a variety of money on a big gamble you hope you possibly can turn into the actual deal.’
Speaking in December last yr in regards to the speculation surrounding his future at Atletico, Alvarez said: ‘Look, it doesn’t hassle me. I try to not pay much attention, but I do know what’s being said.
‘It’s throughout social media. I believe it’s more what’s being said online than what’s actually happening.
‘I’m very focused on this season, on what lies ahead with Atletico Madrid. So, I attempt to tune it out and take into consideration myself, about continuing to grow as a player, and about winning.’
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