Julián Álvarez was not in the starting line-up for Sunday’s La Liga season opener against Villarreal, probably due to the Argentine’s burning desire for a move to rivals Barcelona. Norwegian striker Alexander Sørloth was not in the squad even as he was still injured.
The reception that the fans gave Julián Álvarez when he came on halfway through the second half speaks volumes that it will soon be over. The next stop is probably Arsenal if Julián Álvarez agrees to move to London.
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Atletico Madrid are chasing a striker – two names on the block
Atletico Madrid are preparing for possible departures – and the search for reinforcements is in full swing. Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sorloth could both be on their way out, and that opens up new faces in the attack.
One candidate has skyrocketed in recent days: Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea.
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Alemany traveled to London – Jackson’s hottest name
Sporting director Mateu Alemany happily passed by the presentation of Cristian Romero – and headed for London. There, one of the most important tasks of the transfer window awaits: probing the terrain for a loan deal for Jackson.
The 25-year-old from Senegal is no stranger to the LaLiga crowd. After a season on loan at Bayern Munich – where he recorded 11 goals in 34 games – he is back at Chelsea. And the Germans chose not to exercise the purchase option.
But Jackson has shown consistent goalscoring flair over time: 13 goals for Villarreal in 2022/23, then 17 and 13 goals in a Chelsea shirt before his stay in Germany. Now he could be on his way back to Spain – and Atletico are following closely.
Sørloth can open the door
The key may be Alexander Sørloth. The Norwegian is attracting interest from Trabzonspor, and Atletico have priced him at over €30 million. A possible transfer would free up both space and money – just what is needed to bring Jackson in on loan.
If Sørloth stays, Jackson could still come – then as third choice behind Sørloth and Julián Álvarez. But the situation of the Argentine affects everything, and Atletico must have control of several pieces at the same time.
Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal has also been mentioned as an option, but the Brazilian is currently a lower priority.
Chelsea wants to sell – not rent out
The biggest challenge is in London. Chelsea prefer a sale to another loan and they will wait until the end of the window before making a decision. In addition, the club has limited room for overseas loans – which could send Jackson to another Premier League club instead.
In other words: Atletico must compete on several fronts.
Crucial days
The next few days will be crucial for Nicolas Jackson. Atletico are awaiting developments around Sørloth – and Chelsea’s willingness to negotiate – before putting their final offer on the table.
One thing is for sure: if Jackson returns to LaLiga, he could be one of the most exciting signings of the summer.
