Atletico plot peace with Alvarez: score 20 and your €500m buyout drops, as Barcelona circle | OneFootball

Atletico Madrid are reportedly ready to dangle Julian Alvarez the carrot of lowering his release clause next summer.

Alvarez's desire to leave Atletico Madrid dominated the summer transfer window, with the forward going public in his wish for a transfer. The Argentina international had interest fromArsenal and Barcelona with the 26-year-old pushing for a move to the latter.

Atleticoinsisted Alvarez was not for sale, pointing to a €500m release clause in his contract. The stand-off led to a tense situation and saw Alvarez booed by the Atleti supporters upon his return to the side this season. He has featured only sporadically so far after the summer saga.

From stand-off to sweetener: Atleti will lower Alvarez release clause next summer if he reaches 20 goals

According to Spanish outletEl Chiringuito, Atletico are ready to make Alvarez a proposal in order to ease the internal friction.

Atleti president Gil Marin has reportedly promised to reduce Alvarez's release clause, provided he performs on the pitch this season.

The club have set Alvarez a target of 20 goals across all competitions and are prepared to soften their stance on a potential sale next summer, if he achieves the feat.

The decision comes as Atletico look to repair relationships between last season's leading scorer and the club. Alvarez scored 20 goals last season, and netted 29 in his debut campaign after arriving from Manchester City.

Barcelona remain keen to sign Alvarez next summer as theLa Liga champions look to add the forward to a frontline including Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Anthony Gordon, and Karim Adeyemi.