Julian Alvarez is reportedly open to making a return to the Premier League after Chelsea registered their interest in signing the Atletico Madrid forward.
The Argentine has flourished in the Spanish capital since his £82 million move from Manchester City in 2024, netting an impressive 29 goals in his first season before adding another 11 so far this campaign.
While the 25-year-old is happy at Atletico, his hopes of continuing to win major trophies after leaving City as a two-time Premier League champion haven’t materialized under Diego Simeone.
Atletico finished third in La Liga last season and currently sit fourth, eight points adrift of defending champions Barcelona at the top of the table.
Before last summer’s transfer window, Alvarez was linked with several English clubs, with both Liverpool and Arsenal weighing up potential moves before eventually looking elsewhere for attacking reinforcements.
Arsenal ultimately secured Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting in a £64 million deal, while Liverpool splashed out on two blockbuster signings—Alexander Isak from Newcastle United and Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Now, multiple European giants are monitoring Alvarez’s situation ahead of the summer window, with Barcelona and PSG among the long-standing admirers of the former South American Footballer of the Year.
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea have thrown their hat into the ring and joined the growing list of suitors.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is eager to bolster his attacking options following inconsistent performances from his current forwards. Marc Guiu has managed just four goals across all competitions this season, while Joao Pedro has fared slightly better with eight. Liam Delap, meanwhile, has contributed only a single Premier League goal.
Spanish reports suggest Chelsea are genuinely interested, and crucially, Alvarez would welcome a return to English football.
Although he wasn’t always a guaranteed starter at City, Alvarez still produced 36 goals across two seasons while collecting an impressive trophy haul that included the Champions League, FA Cup, and two league titles.
Atletico Madrid have shown no willingness to part with their star forward, but reports indicate a summer departure could be on the cards if potential buyers meet their €100 million (£87 million) asking price.
When asked about the swirling speculation last month, Alvarez remained composed: ‘It doesn’t bother me. I try not to pay too much attention, but I know what’s being said. It’s everywhere on social media—probably more noise online than actual substance. My focus is entirely on this season and what’s ahead with Atletico. I’m tuning it out and concentrating on my own development and winning trophies here.’
Up next for Alvarez and Atletico is a crucial Champions League encounter against Turkish giants Galatasaray on Wednesday night. Simeone’s side currently occupy eighth place in the group phase, with the top eight earning direct passage to the knockout stages of Europe’s premier club competition.
