(WATCH): This is why Chelsea want to sign Julian Alvarez from Manchester City | All goals, assists, skills | Beautiful football.

 

According to a host of stories doing the rounds, Chelsea are preparing a shock bid for a Premier League rival and leader's attacker. A move for the highly rated Julian Alvarez of Manchester City exemplifies increasing recruitment shrewdness from the Blues. In addition to these elements, a relatively affordable price tag was revealed for the forward.

Alvarez is a world-class World Cup-winner, to be concise. His acquisition would send an unnerving signal to the rest of the big six. Or is that seven, following Villa's ascension of late. Anyway, there is no doubting that the Citizen would improve the Chelsea lineup.

Basically due to Alvarez's desire for more minutes, he may ponder departing Etihad Stadium. There is no guarantee for him at MCFC with Erling Haaland the favourite. The former has an apparent and reasonable valuation of €80m (£68m), in spite of City's reluctance to offload him.

Julian Alvarez playing style:

Álvarez is a versatile player and, as Begiristain said, can play in several different positions. He can play as a centre-forward or a right-winger in a three-man attack, but can also play up front in a two, and he enjoys having a strike partner. He has shown in his career so far that he can play alongside players with very different footballing profiles. Álvarez is able to play either as a number 9 or as a second striker, and is happy to drop between the lines to create for others.

He works hard to create space for teammates in central areas. With his extremely intelligent movement, he is constantly on the lookout for space to offer a vertical passing option to his midfield teammates. He moves on the blind side of the opposition’s central midfielders and looks to receive before combining with others close by (below). Midfielders can then make a run beyond him into the space he has created in behind the opposition. Once he receives the ball, he does not overcomplicate things, and will often play the simple pass with his back to goal, before then spinning out to get into a position where he can threaten goal.

Main qualities

Álvarez is clinical in the penalty area. His off-the-ball movement is exceptional, and he possesses an excellent understanding of how to attack the space behind an opposing back line. He uses his body to gain an advantage when he bursts away from an opponent, and he uses every yard available to him, moving to a position just on the edge of being offside.

With brilliant timing to his movements, he will run through the inside channel to either appear at the near or far post to receive the ball. He also slows down effectively after a quick sprint to ready himself to shoot when close to goal (below).     

He is also both excellent in one-on-one situations and a genuine team player. He knows that the collective is stronger than any individual, and that means he makes good decisions in the final third. As a result, he adds plenty of assists to his impressive goal tally. He also has good physical attributes, and is able to sustain high intensity to his play for long periods.

Below is a clip compilation of his goals, assists and skills that show just why Chelsea want him:

Julian Alvarez goals and skills. (Click to play video)