Aston Villa will reportedly look to sign 22-year-old Argentine international Lautaro Rivero from River Plate, with Emiliano Martinez speaking with the youngster.
According to a report by El Intransigente, Lautaro Rivero is the subject of interest from Aston Villa. The Villans are keen on reinforcing their defensive unit by signing a centre-back next year. So, the 22-year-old River Plate prospect has emerged as a target for the West Midlands club.
However, a move may not be straightforward, as the Moreno native has a release clause worth €100 million in his contract with River Plate. But the report has revealed that offering around €20 million may help Aston Villa seal the deal. Meanwhile, the Birmingham-based club will face stiff competition from several bigwigs for his signature.
Who is Lautaro Rivero?
Lautaro Rivero is the latest promising defender to rise in prominence in his homeland. The youngster spent his formative years in Argentina and graduated from the youth division at River Plate. The 22-year-old has made significant progress in the last few years, even though he has not been a mainstay at the back for Los Millonarios.
The Argentine defensive prospect’s progress has helped him break into his national side. The youngster has made 16 appearances thus far for River Plate, accumulating nearly 1,500 minutes of game time. Meanwhile, Rivero’s exploits have not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. Aston Villa will be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature.
Premier League adventure on the horizon?
Aston Villa’s interest in Lautaro Rivero is understandable. The Villans are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the next two transfer windows. While Unai Emery has a stacked central defensive unit, Tyrone Mings is on the wrong side of 30. Additionally, the English international has struggled with fitness issues in the last 15 months.
Several candidates, including Axel Disasi, have thus emerged on Aston Villa’s radar, with Rivero also a viable target. However, a deal may not be straightforward, as the South American defender has a release clause worth €100 million in his contract with River Plate, although a bid worth around €20 million may also do the trick, as per the report.
Meanwhile, several Premier League clubs, including Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, have also shown interest in signing the River Plate prospect. So, it will be interesting to see if Aston Villa can beat the competition to the 22-year-old Argentine defender’s signature in the coming months.
