Barcelona will adress interest in top attacking target after UCL tie vs Atletico Madrid | OneFootball

The summer transfer window later this year promises to be a crucial one for FC Barcelona, with the club hopeful of returning to the 1:1 Financial Fair Play rule.

The sporting department, led by director Deco, has identified two priorities for the summer – a new left-footed centre-back and a new top-quality centre-forward.

For the centre-back role, Inter Milan mainstay Alessandro Bastoni is seen as the main target, with talks being held with his camp already.

Meanwhile, for the centre-forward role, Barça have set their sights firmly on Atletico Madrid goalscorer Julian Alvarez.

Work for Alvarez after Atletico UCL tie

Now, according to La Vanguardia, Barcelona will wait until the UEFA Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid is over before addressing the matter of their interest in Julian Alvarez.

Barça and Atletico have already faced each other five times in the ongoing season in all competitions, with one more match left to be played.

Alvarez scored against Barcelona in the UCL. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Indeed, the two teams will square off next Tuesday in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, with Barça trailing 0-2 after losing in the first leg this week.

Interestingly, Alvarez was one of the goalscorers for Atleti at the Spotify Camp Nou, dispatching a brilliant free-kick after Pau Cubarsi’s red card in the first half.

Despite there being some doubts about a move, because of finances and Atletico’s reluctance to sell, Barcelona continue to see the Argentine international as their priority for the summer.

However, they will wait until after the next week’s Champions League contest between the two teams before beginning work on a move for the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner.