RUNNING OUTTA TIME: Barcelona have made a move for Arsenal target Julian Alvarez - but maintain their offer is only valid for a limited amount of time

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Barcelona claim their lucrative offer to sign Julian Alvarez from

Atletico Madrid

is time sensitive as they look to get an answer.

The Argentine has expressed a desire to move to the Nou Camp this summer following two impressive years at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Barcelona

themselves are looking to add more firepower after allowing

Robert Lewandowski

to leave when his contract expired.

The Catalans have made a move to sign Alvarez, who is also on

Arsenal

's radar and currently away with his country at the World Cup. However president Joan Laporta has warned that they want an answer.

The Barcelona chief said on their offer for Alvarez: "We've made an offer that isn't unlimited, and in due course we'll announce how long the offer remains on the table.

"The offer was made with the intention of signing a player who appeals to both the sports management and the coach. I think he's a great player; we're maintaining the substantial offer, but the validity of this offer is not unlimited."

Alvarez moved to Atletico from

Manchester City

, where he was ultimately Erling Haaland's understudy despite impressing whenever he took to the pitch. The

La Liga

side spent £81.5million to land the striker, but would demand a notable profit before they considered selling.

Atletico are also desperate to avoid selling to a direct rival in Barcelona and the Spanish champions maintain they will not be forced into a corner. "As for Julian's signing, we're obviously not going to dance to anyone else's tune - we'll set the pace," said Laporta.

"I spoke with [Atletico CEO] Miguel Ángel Gil; as always, we spoke very clearly and openly, and I understand that we have a very good relationship with them. There was some confusion at first regarding the offer we made; I clarified that with him.

"As I understand it, we haven't applied any further pressure - I simply told him that as long as they have an alternative [to Alvarez], this offer remains on the table, and that's where it stands; it hasn't progressed any further for the time being."

Atletico have already rejected a mammoth bid from

Real Madrid

. If

are to come to the party then will need to break their £105m transfer record as

Mikel Arteta

considers going big to bolster his quality in the final third.