Club ‘optimistic’ over marquee Manchester City signing this summer

Atletico Madrid are now reportedly ‘optimistic’ over their chances of signing Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez this summer.

The 24-year-old striker has been toying with the idea of an Etihad Stadium for a number of weeks now, with reports first emerging on a possible interest in a transfer this summer first emerging at the end of the last season.

The widespread belief is that Julian Alvarez holds an ambition to become the mainstay striker at one of Europe’s leading clubs, and as such, would be willing to move away from Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering side in order to achieve such a goal.

In the meantime, the player himself has been open to commenting on his future whilst away on international duty with Argentina at the summer’s Olympic games in Paris, clarifying that he will take some time to think about his club future after his on-field duties are complete.

But from the side of potential suitors in the hunt for Julian Alvarez, and monitoring his situation with interest, one club are growing in optimism over recruiting the player in the remaining weeks of the summer transfer window.

According to the information of El Chiringuito’s Marcos Benito, Atletico Madrid are now set to ‘go after’ Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez this summer, having long been tipped as a potential suitor for the Argentine striker.

It is further explained that the La Liga giants, who are able to offer the 24-year-old a favourable culture and climate for both the player and his family, are ‘optimistic’ over their chances of signing Manchester City’s frontman.

The Premier League champions are unlikely to commit to a sale of Julian Alvarez this summer for a fee below their own valuation of the player however, and reports have already mooted an initial transfer cost of €70 million with a further €20 million in add-ons.

Should Alvarez and his representatives showcase a clear desire to leave the Etihad Stadium upon his return from the Olympics, and bring a suitable offer to the negotiating table for Manchester City, then the club are unlikely to stand in his way.

However, it remains to be seen whether Etihad Stadium officials will seek out a suitable replacement for the Argentina international this summer, whilst it is unknown what candidates would be deemed viable in the remaining weeks of the market.