Julian Alvarez: Man United transfer plot forces Atletico Madrid response

Manchester United’s plan to shake up their forward line has put Atlético Madrid on red alert, with the Spanish club already moving to safeguard star striker Julián Álvarez after learning of the Premier League giants’ interest.

United’s recruitment team have prioritised midfield reinforcements and a left-sided option for the summer window, yet sources have confirmed the club still want a “versatile forward” capable of operating as both a striker and a No. 10. That profile has led them to the 26-year-old Argentine World Cup winner, whose exploits at Manchester City have been followed by an impressive spell in the Spanish capital.

Managerial confidence in Benjamin Sesko remains intact despite the Slovenian’s slow start at Old Trafford, but patience has run out with fellow front-man Joshua Zirkzee, who is expected to head back to Italy at season’s end. Rasmus Hojlund’s loan at Napoli will be made permanent, leaving Erik ten Hag’s side short of proven firepower and intensifying the search for a marquee addition.

The uncertainty surrounding captain Bruno Fernandes further complicates United’s outlook. The Portuguese playmaker, restored to his preferred advanced role under interim boss Michael Carrick after being deployed deeper by predecessor Ruben Amorim, continues to be courted by Saudi Arabia’s big spenders. Even if he stays, INEOS accept that a succession strategy is required for a talisman who turns 32 next season, making Álvarez’s dual skill-set all the more attractive.

Atlético, however, are determined to keep their prize asset. Despite Álvarez being contracted until 2030, club officials have opened talks over improved terms in a bid to extinguish speculation. Sport reports that Arsenal and Chelsea are also circling, while Barcelona remain the player’s preferred destination. The Catalans’ well-documented financial constraints leave them unable to table a competitive offer, leaving England’s heavyweights as the most realistic suitors.

Any deal will be costly. Atlético turned down a £105 million approach from Arsenal in January, underlining the valuation they place on a forward who has already proved he can flourish in the Premier League. United are unlikely to match such a fee unless Fernandes departs for a nine-figure sum himself, yet the need for a statement capture could push INEOS into unprecedented spending should the club’s skipper leave.

With negotiations on a new Atlético deal under way and several of Europe’s richest clubs monitoring developments, the battle for Álvarez promises to be one of the summer’s most compelling sagas, setting up a potential tug-of-war between Manchester and Madrid.