Gavi's Barcelona Wish List: Alvarez and Oyarzabal Top the Striker Shortlist

Barcelona's midfield maestro Gavi has thrown his weight behind two striking targets for the Blaugrana, naming Julian Alvarez and Mikel Oyarzabal as his dream teammates heading into the summer transfer window.

Speaking at Spain's camp ahead of Sunday's clash with Saudi Arabia, the Barca star was quizzed on which World Cup-winning colleague he'd fancy alongside him at the club. After a telling pause, his answer was unambiguous: Alvarez.

The Atletico Madrid forward has made no secret of his desire to engineer a move to Catalonia. Yet there's a complication—Arsenal appear to have muscled into the picture. According to journalist Jota Jordi, speaking on El Chiringuito TV on June 17, the Gunners have already wrapped up a deal with Atletico, with €50million (£43.3m) on the table and Viktor Gyokeres heading in the opposite direction as part of the arrangement.

The reigning Premier League champions are certainly keen to bolster their attacking options. Alvarez, who turned down a €150m (£130m) approach from Real Madrid earlier this month, remains the focal point of Barcelona's recruitment plans as they navigate life without Robert Lewandowski—the 37-year-old having signalled his intention to seek pastures new.

When initially asked which Spanish World Cup star he'd recruit, Gavi initially flirted with Marc Pubill's name before pivoting. "No, look, I'm not going to tell you Pubill," he said. "I'm going to tell you Mikel Oyarzabal."

The Real Sociedad winger has been a cornerstone of the Basque outfit for over a decade, amassing 133 goals across 437 appearances. At 29 years old with just two years left on his contract, he represents a more pragmatic proposition than Alvarez. During the 2025/26 campaign, Oyarzabal chipped in with 18 goals across all competitions, and Transfermarkt values him at a modest €25m (£21.6m)—a fraction of the €150m-plus that might be required to prise Alvarez away.

There remains a possibility, however, that Barcelona could negotiate a reduced fee for the Argentine. Having already knocked back a bid from city rivals Real Madrid, Atletico may prove more flexible with their asking price.