Manchester City close to deal for River Plate’s Argentina forward Julián Álvarez

Manchester City are close to signing the Argentina forward Julián Álvarez from River Plate, although the 21-year-old would not move to England until June at the earliest.

Negotiations are continuing, with City offering €16m (£13.4m) plus add-ons and River wanting a guarantee of at least €21m, but there is optimism at the Premier League club that an agreement will be struck.

River would like to keep Álvarez, who came through their youth teams, until June or even November, when the World Cup starts in Qatar. The likeliest outcome is that he would stay until June, although City could also choose to loan him elsewhere.

Personal terms will not be an issue and City are ready to provide a five-year contract for a player who got his club debut in October 2018 and won the first of his five caps in June 2021. Álvarez can play as a winger or more centrally.

Manchester United have been widely linked with Álvarez, who has a €25m release clause, but have not been in talks to sign him.