Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has claimed that reported Liverpool target Julian Alvarez is happy to stay in Spain despite interest.
The Reds’ 3-2 loss against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday mattered little in the context of the team’s Premier League season given they had already been declared champions.
Federico Chiesa was chosen to lead the line against the Seagulls but he failed to impress, while record-signing Darwin Nunez was only brought on as a second-half substitute.
With neither impressing this season and the summer transfer window fast approaching, attention has turned to potential replacements, though Alvarez may be beyond the Merseysiders’ reach.
Atletico Madrid president Cerezo has spoken out on the striker’s future and insisted that the Argentine will stay beyond the 2024-25 campaign, telling reporters: “Julian Alvarez is a player of Atletico Madrid, he’s very happy here, he is our player and he will remain our player. He was raised at Atletico Madrid and he will die at Atletico Madrid.”
Alvarez may have proven prohibitively expensive had Liverpool looked to sign him, but with the 25-year-old supposedly off the market, the field of potential targets that Slot could look to sign has narrowed.
Who should Slot sign?
Considering talisman Mohamed Salah has penned a two-year extension to remain at Anfield, a new centre-forward must be able to build chemistry with the Egyptian and help get the most out of him.
Salah is now 32 and has altered his game to become more of a wide playmaker, meaning that the team’s striker should be willing to make runs beyond the last line of defence to maximise the winger’s passing ability.
If the Reds also sign a creative attacker such as Florian Wirtz, it would be important to provide him with a focal point to play towards in the penalty area.
Perhaps the likes of Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres or Napoli’s Victor Osimhen could be targeted, though Liverpool would likely face fierce competition for their services.
Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap has also shown that he is capable of contributing in the Premier League, and while he still needs to develop his game to fulfil his potential, his release clause of £30m makes him an attainable option.
