Liverpool should target River Plate’s Julian Alvarez.
The 2018 Copa Libertadores champion has played 25 times for Los Millionarios and has been a bright spark for the Argentine outfit.
He has been highlighted for his mental toughness towards disappointment with injury and knock-backs with both his club and Argentina Under-20’s.
However, according to reliable player scouting site wyscout.com and author Peter Coates, his class has shown throughout as both a number nine, ten, and a winger.
He trialled at Real Madrid whilst being focused solely as a striker before joining River – but now has the luxury of playing under former diminutive attacking midfielder Marcelo Gallardo, who he has clearly learned from in his style of play.
Gallardo went on to play 44 times for Argentina, scoring 13 goals – clearly this is something Alvarez will look to emulate.
Although Alvarez has been a provider so far during his career, said Coates, he displays traits of goal-scoring threat with his inside movement – trailblazing his number nine mentality.
This can be easily compared with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Wingers who are natural goalscorers as they cut inside onto their stronger foot.
Julian Alvarez is intelligent and scores various types of goals – again, akin to Salah and Mane. But, he can also play more centrally which could lead to him scoring more, playing the Firmino role perhaps?
He’s got a long way to go, mainly because he has a front two ahead of him in Rafael Santos Borre and Matias Suarez which the manager prefers for now. But he is ever closer to becoming a regular in Buenos Aires.
I’m sure he’s already on Jurgen Klopp’s radar too – maybe in the next few years we will see the 20 year-old make the move across the Atlantic and hopefully, to Anfield. His release clause is £22.3m – very gettable.
Julian Alvarez. One for the future.