Mansion Sports – Barcelona have identified Julian Alvarez as their primary target to strengthen the attacking line in the long term.

However, the Catalan club is not willing to spend excessively to secure the Atletico Madrid player.

Under the guidance of Hansi Flick, Barcelona have begun restructuring their squad composition for the upcoming season by establishing clear financial limits.

Barcelona Set a Price Limit for Alvarez

Barcelona view Alvarez as the ideal figure to succeed Robert Lewandowski, thanks to his versatility and goal-scoring sharpness.

Although the interest in the player is significant, the club’s management has determined a maximum limit in the negotiation process.

Reports indicate that Barcelona are only willing to spend up to 70 million euros to sign the Argentine forward.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are expected to demand a fee exceeding 80 million euros. This difference in valuation has led Barcelona to remain disciplined and unwilling to exceed their predetermined limit.

In addition to the price factor, there are internal considerations regarding Alvarez’s performances this season, which are seen as less consistent compared to before, both at club level and with the Argentina national team. This further reinforces the management’s decision to remain cautious in making an offer.

Atletico Madrid’s Firm Stance in Negotiations

On the other hand, Atletico Madrid have shown no indication of easing the transfer process. The club considers Alvarez an important part of the project led by coach Diego Simeone.

The Atletico management emphasized that the player still has a long-term contract and has no desire to leave.

The club’s director, Mateu Alemany, stated that Alvarez is happy at Atletico and there are no issues regarding his future.

He also stressed that the various circulating speculations are interpretations that do not reflect reality.

With several years remaining on his contract, Atletico hope to retain Alvarez in the long term and even leave open the possibility of a contract extension.

Barcelona’s Plan for the Post-Lewandowski Era

Amid public support from club president Joan Laporta, Robert Lewandowski’s role has begun to decline this season. The Polish striker, now 37 years old, is entering the final phase of his career in Spain.

Barcelona are reportedly considering the option of extending his contract for one year with a reduced salary.

In this scenario, Lewandowski is likely to take on a role as a substitute from the bench, in line with the club’s plan to regenerate the attacking line.

Efforts to Strengthen the Defense and Interest in Bastoni

In addition to focusing on the attacking sector, Hansi Flick is also working to strengthen the defense by bringing in a high-quality left-footed center-back.

The name Alessandro Bastoni from Inter has emerged as one of the main candidates on the club’s target list.

However, this potential transfer is expected to require a significant fee. Inter are said to be considering a sale to support their financial needs in other transfer activities.

Unlike previous approaches, Barcelona currently do not plan to include players as part of the deal and prefer a direct cash transaction.

With Bastoni’s contract still valid until 2028, the negotiation process is predicted to be complex.

Nevertheless, Barcelona remain optimistic that they can convince Inter to release one of their key players in order to support the squad rebuilding process.