There has been a shock in the football world over the past couple of days. Julián Álvarez, the young World Cup-winning striker of Manchester City, has been reportedly made available on the transfer market. According to Fabrizio Romano, Álvarez would like more playing time and enjoy a starting role considering his success at the club in the past two seasons. Chelsea could target the young forward.
How good is Álvarez?
Julián Álvarez was a phenom in European football in the 2022/23 season with both Manchester City and Argentina. Obviously, he was a part of the World Cup-winning Argentina squad in which he contributed greatly with four goals and one assist in seven appearances in Qatar. In forty-nine appearances with Manchester City in that 2022-23 season, he had seventeen goals and five assists playing as the backup striker behind Erling Haaland. Haaland clearly had the more impactful first season in the Premier League deservedly showing the qualities as the starting striker and earning that role for himself.
It is clear to most that Álvarez deserves a chance as a starting striker in the Premier League or at least in Europe somewhere, and Chelsesa are interested in giving him that chance at Stamford Bridge. Accoring to Gastón Edul of TyC Sports, Chelsea are interested in acquiring his services. Edul also said that the city Álvarez would be going to in a potential move would be important and that it’s not strictly about playing time. He wants the opportunity but is not going to move somewhere that doesn’t further his career.
Does Álvarez fit with Chelsea?
With Chelsea needing a main man up front to lead the line and be a true goalscorer theoretically the Blues should be eager to attempt to acquire the Argentinan’s services. Álvarez is not your prototypical big striker who is dominant in the air with a power shot on him like Haaland is.
Álvarez is similar to the likes of current Chelsea man Christopher Nkunku in his style of play, being able to drop deep and link up play while also be technically good on the ball. Álvarez, standing at 5’7 155 lbs is actually much smaller than most people think and is pretty sizably smaller than Nkunku who is 5’10 and 150 lbs.
Álvarez’s fit with Chelsea isn’t a natural one and probably should be avoided by the club at any significant price. The club is awaiting a decision on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Šeško on personal terms, who in my opinion is a much better fit. His age, height and weight, release clause price, and playstyle.