Atletico Madrid are in advanced talks with Manchester City over Julian Alvarez after ‘softening their stance’ over the potential sale of Samu Omorodion to Chelsea, a report has claimed.

Alvarez has been vocal with his desire to play more regular football next season, be that at City or elsewhere. Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, claimed he could ‘count on’ the forward heading into the 2024/25 season.

But it appears Alvarez will be leaving City in the near future. David Ornstein of The Athletic reports Atletico are ‘close to striking a deal’ with City, and an agreement is ‘in sight’.

The two clubs are now discussing the price of the move and the structuring of the fee. Though this is yet to be agreed, Atletico are expected to pay at least £70m for the 24-year-old.

Alvarez is coming off the back of an extended 2023/24 season which only just finished having featured for Argentina at both Copa America and the Olympics.

Atletico have continued their pursuit of Alvarez despite signing Norway striker Alexander Sorloth from Villarreal last week, and The Athletic go on to say that Atletico are now open to selling highly-rated 20-year-old Samu.

Chelsea saw a £27.4m bid for Samu rejected by Atletico back in June, and the Blues remain interested in signing him. They remain in dialogue with Atletico, not least because of Conor Gallagher’s impending move to the Estadio Metropolitano.

Though Chelsea may now sign Samu for a fee believed to be worth £34.4m, they could still bring in Victor Osimhen from Napoli. Talks are ongoing over a deal regarding the Nigerian, as well as a separate transaction to reunite Romelu Lukaku with Antonio Conte in Naples.

Chelsea have already signed striker Marc Guiu from Barcelona this summer, though the teenager admitted he may be loaned out for the 2024/25 season and a plan for his short-term future has not yet been determined. Fellow young forwards Armando Broja and David Datro Fofana are likely to be sold.

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