As Barcelona prepare for a busy 2026, one of their priorities is signing a new number nine to serve as a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
The 37-year-old veteran continues to impress with his goal scoring, but this could be his last season at Barcelona. With that in mind, the club is actively searching for a new striker, with Julian Alvarez emerging as a top candidate.
Recent reports indicate Alvarez is ready to join Barcelona after the FIFA World Cup. However, signing the Argentine international won’t be straightforward, especially given his current situation with Atletico Madrid.
According to a recent report from Santi Aouna (via FCB World), Barcelona will have to cough up at least €200 million to secure Alvarez's services. This makes sense since Atletico Madrid paid a fortune to sign him and he still has a long-term contract until 2030.
Additionally, Atletico is keen on extending his contract to fend off interest from Barcelona. Keeping this in mind, it's unlikely Barcelona will afford a move for the former Manchester City star unless they secure the exit of at least two or three high-profile players like Frenkie de Jong, Marc Casado, and Ronald Araujo to raise funds.
