Reports this week suggested that Julian Alvarez is available for transfer this summer. Despite proving instrumental in Manchester City's trophy haul since his arrival from River Plate, there are suggestions that the Premier League champions are willing to entertain offers for the Argentina international.
Injury to Kevin De Bruyne at the start of the season saw Alvarez earn plenty of minutes in a number of competitions. Indeed, he started 31 of 38 Premier League games as City claimed a fourth successive Premier League title, scoring 11 and providing nine assists in the process. With the added versatilty that he brings to the side, Alvarez is a manager's dream to work with. Across the course of the campaign the 24-year-old has featured as the lone striker, in a reserved attacking role or out wide, and delivered high-quality performances in each position.
So for City to be considering offers for Alvarez is mindboggling to say the least, at least from the outside looking in. City, though, have previous when it comes to cutting their losses with star players if the club believes it to be in their best interests. Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane are two prime examples with the pair shifted on to Chelsea and Bayern Munich, respectively. In this industry, you have to be ruthless even with key players, and Alvarez is no exception.
Reports suggest that Alvarez is unhappy at the Etihad even having featured prominently in 2023/24, and yet much of that gametime was due to injuries to regular starters. Indeed, Alvarez's last three appearances of the campaign all came from the bench as City fought to finish above Arsenal in the table, while he was an unused sub in the final day win over West Ham.
The issue here, then, stems from the fact that head coach Pep Guardiola has three in-form stars operating in roles Alvarez can play. Goalscoring machine Erling Haaland leads the charge when fit and rightly so. The Norwegian has won back-to-back Golden Boots in his two years in England. In support, Phil Foden was named Premier League Player of the Season and FWA Footballer of the Year after a superb campaign for City, while De Bruyne is considered to be one of the best creative stars in the game.
This leaves Alvarez between a rock and a hard place - either stay and fight for the place at City, or leave, with the latter a possibility. Atletico Madrid and PSG are believed to be potential suitors for the forward, while City are no strangers to selling to fellow Premier League sides, as noted by Sterling, Cole Palmer, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko's respective moves to Chelsea and Arsenal.
Julian Alvarez averaged more key passes per 90 (5.2) than any other player in the #UCL this season. 🧙♂️ pic.twitter.com/tsxS4Eqvpf
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) June 6, 2024
And yet City would be foolish to cash in on Alvarez, even if they receive a high fee for the 2022 World Cup winner. That's partly due to the hard work off the ball he carries out, which in turn allows City to force high turnovers in the final third, offering an alternative attacking threat in the process. Alvarez won possession in the attacking third 32 times in England's top tier last term, that ranking ninth overall and third of all City players behind Foden (35) and Rodri (33). In addition, given De Bruyne's advancing years - the Belgian turns 33 later this month - the creator-in-chief won't be featuring as frequently in the forthcoming campaign.
There is an understandable desire for Alvarez to be playing regularly for his club. That he has been unable to hold down a regular spot under Guardiola says more about the quality of personnel at his disposal but to be considered second choice in a number of a positions would go some way to explaining why he may be keen on a summer exit. There'll be no shortage of suitors for a player of Alvarez's calibre should City be in the market to sell the Argentine in the off-season, especially if he believes he can garner regular minutes for one of Europe's elite.
City are expected to undergo a minor squad overhaul this summer with on-loan pair Joao Cancelo and Kalvin Phillips, and midfielder Matheus Nunes, who only joined last year, among those believed to be up for grabs. While the sale of Alvarez would boost the coffers heading into the market, the repercussions of his exit would be significant. City would struggle to find a striker who not only creates for others - Alvarez ranked second for key passes (67) for the Cityzens last season - but brings that high intensity and work-rate that Guardiola craves. They themselves would need to delve into the market to strengthen in the final third when, at present, there are other areas of concern.
Guardiola's side have shown they are willing to cut ties with those unhappy at the Etihad in previous years but Alvarez is one who should buck the trend. City after all won't sign a comparable forward in the current market without breaking the bank.
