Barcelona will FIGHT Liverpool over Julian Alvarez

Liverpool face intense competition from Barcelona over Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez. They're ready to go to war.

Anfield Watch exclusively reported back in March that Liverpool are keeping tabs on Julian Alvarez. The Reds actually tried to make a play for him last summer but weren't able to make things work.

READ MORE: Liverpool still deciding on Trent Alexander-Arnold CASH-IN

But his magnificent debut season with Atletico Madrid has them eager to finally sign Alvarez. The Reds are keeping tabs on the player and potentially pushing for a move, if they get any kind of sign that he's available.

It's a very difficult deal to make happen, of course. Atletico don't like selling their star players and when they do, it's typically for an awful lot of money.

Alvarez is a truly special player, though and if he is available, Liverpool are going to try. But they'll have competition there.

READ MORE: Liverpool have already signed next Mo Salah for NOTHING

Julian Alvarez is in demand

Marca reports that Joan Laporta will make a campaign promise to sign Julian Alvarez for Barcelona. It's a typical way to win votes in elections for La Liga's two biggest clubs - say you'll bring in a truly elite player, no matter how likely that is.

It means that Barcelona will push to sign Alvarez and push as hard as they can, hoping to turn the player's head. Their push is simple: the Argentine can be Robert Lewandowski's replacement.

Now, that's going to tempt any forward around. Especially as Alvarez has proven a desire to be a leading striker - he left Manchester City last year for exactly that reason.

His form at Atletico is the fruit of that decision and there's now no question that he's one of the world's best forwards. The question is whether he wants to risk what he's got to move to a 'bigger' club.

After all, Alvarez took a chance on himself and landed on his feet with Atletico. They're giving him exactly what he wanted, while he may not find the same success in Catalonia.

Marca's article makes that point with Antoine Griezmann, a current teammate of Alvarez's. The Frenchman pushed for a move from Atletico to Barcelona only to struggle badly. He'd then make the move in the reverse direction at the next opportunity and largely recapture his form.

Alvarez, then, plays alongside evidence of why the grass isn't always greener. It all comes together to show how difficult it will be for Liverpool to sign him.

They'd be asking the forward to give up the good thing he's got going at Atletico and need to see off an intense transfer campaign from Barcelona. Possible? Yes. But not likely.

READ MORE: Star now ready for Liverpool offer as release clause TRIGGERS