Barcelona prepare €100m bid for Julian Alvarez as Lewandowski exit looms

Barcelona are preparing to submit an official offer to sign Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, positioning him as the long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski. The Spanish champions are finalising a first proposal that is not expected to include players in part exchange, with Atletico Madrid likely to demand a transfer fee in the region of €100m.

The pursuit of Alvarez continues with determination despite Barcelona agreeing a £69m deal to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United. Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Catalan club’s opening bid will be purely financial, reflecting a strategic approach to the acquisition of the Argentine forward, who is contracted to Atletico until 2030.

Alvarez has informed Atletico Madrid of his desire to leave the Spanish capital, having rejected a new contract offer last season. Despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain and several Premier League clubs, the player favours a move to Barcelona. The club is scheduled to hold a meeting with the player’s camp before tabling its formal offer to the Madrid-based side.

Since joining Atletico from Manchester City in 2024, Alvarez has established himself as a key figure in Diego Simeone’s squad, scoring 49 goals in 106 games across all competitions. His technical profile is highly regarded, with last season’s data showing he ranked in the top five percent of La Liga forwards for successful passes, successful crosses, chances created, and big chances created.

The move is driven by the impending departure of Lewandowski, whose contract expires at the end of the season. The 37-year-old leaves after 120 goals in 193 games for Barcelona over four seasons. Despite limited minutes in the 2025/26 campaign, Lewandowski scored 41 La Liga goals, second only to Kylian Mbappe’s 56 over the last two seasons, underscoring the need for a sustained offensive solution.