Reports: Manchester United contact Álvarez? Carrick's striker real plan revealed, one player still refuses to leave

Spanish media claims that Manchester United has made direct contact with Julián Álvarez's agent, potentially entering the transfer battle for the Atlético Madrid striker. Previously, the 'Spider', who is currently playing for Argentina in the World Cup, made an explosive statement demanding to stay, accusing Atlético of rejecting two huge offers from Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Real Madrid publicly declared that their €150 million (£129 million) offer was rejected by Atlético, and Barcelona's separate offer also failed to be accepted by the 'Rojiblancos'. Álvarez is very dissatisfied and has publicly demanded a transfer to fulfill his bigger dreams. He told ESPN: 'For me, the best option is to leave, I want to realize my dream. I don't want to hide or pretend, I try to be honest. I've talked with Atlético, and I think for all parties, my departure is the best decision.'

However, Atlético is very unhappy with Barcelona and has no intention of entering any transfer negotiations with them. Premier League champions Arsenal have become the new frontrunner. Transfer expert Ben Jacobs said: 'I think Arsenal is well aware that Álvarez is currently determined to join Barcelona, but we cannot rule out the possibility of changes. Perhaps after the World Cup, later in the transfer window, other clubs might get a chance.'

Regarding Álvarez's price, Jacobs added: 'I've also heard that, despite Atlético's denial, the €500 million release clause is actually more complex. Some Champions League clubs can sign him for a lower price, around €130 million. Including taxes, the total cost is close to €150 million. From multiple reliable sources, I've learned that the final fee could be between €130 million and €150 million. For now, Barcelona is the one to watch, but Álvarez is indeed a dream target for Arsenal.'

AS now claims that Manchester United has also joined the race for the 26-year-old Argentine striker. The newspaper's Marcos Durán reports that after learning about Álvarez's situation, United has spoken with his agent.

United have a long history with Álvarez. In January 2022, interim manager Ralf Rangnick wanted to sign Álvarez, then playing for River Plate in Argentina, but the club board rejected the proposal to bring in a striker in that window. Subsequently, Manchester City spent £14 million to secure the striker, who had trialed at Real Madrid at age 11. Álvarez soon scored six goals in a single Copa Libertadores match for River Plate, making the buyers who passed on him regret it.

Now, due to Álvarez's skyrocketing valuation, the possibility of Manchester United signing him is zero. The Madrid mouthpiece AS linked him to the Red Devils, presumably to create trouble for their rival Barcelona and drive up the price. This is similar to earlier rumors that Barcelona listed Šeško as a replacement for Lewandowski—purely speculative.

Manchester United officials dismiss these claims and insist that Šeško will not leave and will be Carrick's number 9 in the tactical system. The 23-year-old Šeško only joined United last summer from RB Leipzig for €85 million (£73 million), contributing 11 Premier League goals in his first season.

Therefore, United will not consider any offers for Šeško, especially from Barcelona. Due to the transfer of Rashford, relations between the two clubs have hit rock bottom, and the Red Devils refuse to negotiate with the Catalans regarding a loan extension for Rashford.

In fact, Manchester United will indeed consider signing a new striker in the summer transfer window. They hope to find an experienced scorer who can share the burden of playing time and goals with Šeško, providing a rotation option. But that depends on Joshua Zirkzee's future. The 25-year-old Dutch forward joined from Bologna two years ago for €42.5 million (£36.5 million), but has failed to make a substantial impact, scoring a meager 2 goals last season.

Zirkzee currently refuses to transfer, eager to fight for his place at Old Trafford. United's transfer department will listen to offers for him in the summer, but unfortunately, there seems to be no takers. Italian clubs that once wanted to sign him have now cooled their interest due to his fickle stance.

In the Premier League, Zirkzee's goal-scoring level is poor, but he has decent personal skills, is popular among fans, and knows how to handle relationships, earning praise from teammates in the dressing room. Therefore, if he insists on staying, United will be helpless. After United returned to the Champions League, Zirkzee's weekly wage reached £130,000, with £100,000 as basic salary.