Chelsea and Manchester United Told Alvarez Deal Won't Bridge Arsenal Gap
Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United have received a stark warning that pursuing a transfer for Julian Alvarez will not aid their efforts to catch league leaders Arsenal. Alvarez, currently at Atletico Madrid after a £82 million move from Manchester City two seasons ago, is heavily linked with a return to England this summer, with Arsenal also reportedly interested.
High Price Tag and Doubts Over Impact
Despite a relatively low-scoring season under Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid are expected to demand over €100 million (approximately £86 million) for the Argentine forward. However, former Premier League midfielder Andy Townsend expressed skepticism about the value of such an investment for Chelsea and United.
'I like Julian Alvarez and I 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 top of the Premier League to really kick on and go and grab the league out of Arsenal's hands,' Townsend told Boyle Sports. He acknowledged Alvarez's clever play and finishing but questioned his ability to start as a striker in the Premier League and be a game-changer for teams chasing Arsenal.
Scarcity of World-Class Strikers in the Market
Townsend highlighted a broader issue in football: the lack of available world-class strikers. 'So many people are always looking for that individual. Who's going to come in and do what Harry Kane has done at Bayern Munich or what Erling Haaland does for City?' he said. He noted that few players can match Haaland's style of minimal involvement in general play while still achieving high goal numbers, and pointed out that Serie A no longer produces a glut of top-class strikers.
He mentioned Kylian Mbappe as the ultimate modern number nine but questioned his peak performance at Real Madrid. 'I think there are very, very few out there that would tempt you to spend over £100 million, and maybe that's why there is so much talk about Julian Alvarez,' Townsend added, suggesting clubs might overpay for Alvarez or gamble on developing younger talent due to this scarcity.
Alvarez's Focus on Atletico Madrid
In December, Alvarez addressed the transfer speculation, stating, 'Look, it doesn't bother me. I try not to pay much attention, but I know what's being said. It's all over social media. I think it's more what's being said online than what's actually happening.' He emphasized his focus on the current season with Atletico Madrid and his personal growth as a player.
The warning from Townsend underscores the strategic challenges facing Chelsea and Manchester United as they aim to compete with Arsenal, with the summer transfer window poised to test their recruitment decisions in a tight striker market.
