La Liga striker emerges as Barcelona option if Julian Alvarez move fails | OneFootball

FC Barcelona seem to be urgently concluding their transfer business as the summer transfer window reaches its last weeks. The Blaugranes are close to completing two major signings in the next few hours, i.e., Rodri Hernandez from Manchester City and Joao Cancelo, who will rejoin the Catalan club after terminating his contract with Al-Hilal.

A few days ago, they also completed the exit operation of the forward Ferran Torres, who has joined Paris Saint-Germain. While this operation brought in €50 million to their coffers, this transfer also leaves Hansi Flick’s team without a natural first-team center-forward.

Barcelona had long identified the Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez as their preferred option for this position, but the Colchoneros have remained adamant in their stance that the Argentine is not for sale, and have not entered negotiations for his signing with the Blaugrana club.

Now, with less than two weeks left in the transfer market, and both Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres having left the team, time is of the essence for the Catalans to bring in another center-forward. Their top priority still remains Alvarez, but other alternatives are now also being linked with them.

In this regard, the journalist David Sanchez revealed to Radio MARCA that the Villarreal striker Ayoze Perez is one of the options Barcelona are considering as an alternative if they cannot sign Alvarez this summer. The journalist went on to highlight that he is quite a popular name in the Blaugrana club’s decision-makers, and Flick also likes him a lot.

The 32-year-old forward has a contract with Villarreal till 2028, with a release clause of €30 million. However, the two clubs can negotiate a lower fee between them, especially as Ayoze Perez himself is willing to do everything possible to ensure a move if Barcelona comes knocking on his door.