Barcelona pivot to Alvarez after Kane pursuit fails

Barcelona are shifting their summer striker hunt to Argentine forward Julián Álvarez after informal approaches for Harry Kane were rebuffed. The La Liga side had initially prioritised Kane as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski but were quickly rebuffed by the England captain’s representatives. Kane concluded the season with 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich, including 14 in 13 Champions League games, though Bayern were eliminated in the semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain. Internationally, Kane scored twice as England beat Croatia 4-2 in their World Cup opener.

TyC Sports Barcelona have now turned their attention to Álvarez, who has publicly stated his desire to leave Atlético Madrid this summer. The 24-year-old’s contract runs until June 2028, giving Atlético significant leverage in any transfer negotiation. Barcelona submitted a bid for Álvarez that was rejected by Atlético, who have also denied he could join Spotify Camp Nou.

Atlético have reiterated that any club pursuing Álvarez must trigger his €500 million release clause. The Madrid club’s stance reflects concerns over potential dressing-room disruption if the player remains unhappy, yet they retain the contractual upper hand. Barcelona’s earlier pursuit of Kane underscored their urgency to refresh the attack following Lewandowski’s departure.

The Blaugrana’s pivot to Álvarez comes amid ongoing uncertainty over their striker options for the new season.