Aston Villa claimed they were ready to pay more than £12.5 million for River Plate sensation Julian Alvarez during the summer transfer window before the Premier League side cooled their interest, as reported by El Intransigente.
With the benefit of hindsight, Villa might wish they had taken the plunge a few months ago.
Because, with the January transfer window looming and reports suggesting that Dean Smith’s side are ready to renew their interest, securing Alvarez’s signature threatens to be a lot more difficult now than it was back in June, when initial talks with the player’s representatives took place.
According to Calciomercato, top-flight rivals Tottenham Hotspur are in the race too these days.
As are Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Inter and AC Milan. What’s more, it seems highly unlikely that River Plate would consider selling Alvarez for a penny less than his £22 million release clause these days, particularly after the Argentina international notched a first hat-trick of his career during this week’s 3-1 victory over San Lorenzo.
Alvarez, a Copa America winner in July, has now scored 10 goals in 12 games this term.
“I see things very similar to Cristiano Ronaldo in Julian Alvarez,” South American expert Rodolfo Cingolani said after his one-man destruction of San Lorenzo.
“He strikes the ball like (Ronaldo), not everyone can do this. He scores headers, scores from free kicks…”
Could Julian Alvarez still end up at Aston Villa?
Simply put, Alvarez is turning into quite the player; a number ten thriving as a number nine, finding the net with tap-ins, long-range rockets, impudent chips and about every other type of finish you can imagine.
According to El Instransigente, Aston Villa were prepared to pay more than £12.5 million for Alvarez over the summer before turning their attention to the likes of Leon Bailey.
These days, you would be lucky to get Alvarez’s left-leg for £12.5 million…
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