River Plate forward Julian Alvarez is a transfer target for Manchester United… but local rivals Manchester City are reportedly close to completing a £21million move
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Transfer rumours from around Europe
Manchester City are confident of signing River Plate forward Julian Alvarez this month, according to reports.
The 21-year-old is also a target for City’s local rivals Manchester United after a stunning season in Argentina’s top-flight.
Alvarez scored 20 goals in 35 league games to help River lift the title and earn his first five senior caps for Argentina.
He’s already won plenty of trophies since turning professional, including the Copa Libertadores and Copa America.
And, according to The Athletic, he could secure a £21million move to City before the end of the January transfer window.
Which club should Julian Alvarez join? Let us know in the comments below!
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It’s believed River want Alvarez to remain part of their squad until the summer, a condition City manager Pep Guardiola is willing to accept.
The proposed deal would then see the talent link-up with his new team-mates ahead of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.
Alvarez reportedly fancies a move to Europe and his agent has previously travelled to London and Madrid to discuss his future with a number of clubs.
As well as United and City, the forward has been linked with Aston Villa, Real Madrid and German outfit Bayer Leverkusen.
His release clause is believed to be €25m – around £20.9m – and he will qualify for a work permit due to his impressive CV.
If Alvarez was to complete a move to the Etihad, few would be surprised considering his comments in 2020 when he admitted they are one of his two favourite clubs to play with on video games.
“Playing in Europe is most people’s dream because of those leagues’ quality and what it means to be at those clubs,” he told Radio La Red via the Manchester Evening News.
“But I am taking it easy. Obviously I talk to my agent and my family, but I know I have to stay focused on what I’m doing. Later the time will come, through the work I am doing.
“On the Playstation I play with Barcelona or Manchester City.”
City, who tried to sign Tottenham star Harry Kane last summer, do not have a specialist goalscorer in their first-team squad.
Gabriel Jesus is viewed as a No9 but has struggled for goals this season, managing just two in his 18 Premier League outings.
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City’s lack of a striker hasn’t impacted their form, as they currently sit 11 points clear at the top of the table with 12 consecutive league wins under their belt.
Speaking in September, former Republic of Ireland international Tony Cascarino claimed City’s failure to sign a striker last summer would cost them the title.
“We can only make that judgement really at the end of the season, but I’ve said all along, if you were prepared to pay £100m and a bit more for Harry Kane you definitely wanted a striker.” Cascarino told talkSPORT.
“You think you need one, because you made a bid for a striker that didn’t go over the line. The fact that you didn’t get that striker, now ‘it’s not a problem’, but it was a problem.
“Pep recognised he needed a centre-forward of a certain type and I think by the end of the season it will cost City the title… it will hurt City.”
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