Manchester City close in on River Plate and Argentina starlet to replicate Julian Alvarez deal – Paper Round

Claudio Echeverri looks set to follow in Julian Alvarez’s footsteps and swap River Plate for Manchester City.

The Athletic claims that the 17-year-old will be part of a deal similar to the one that saw Alvarez join the club in January 2022.

Echeverri, who skippered Argentina to Under-17 World Cup glory in November, will likely be sent back on loan to the Buenos Aires side as part of the deal.

“The 17-year-old attacking midfielder is likely to be sent out on loan should he complete his move to City, and a return to River is on the cards.

“That is the same arrangement that City and River agreed upon when Julian Alvarez signed for the Premier League club in January 2022.

“Echeverri captained Argentina at the Under-17 World Cup in November, scoring five goals – including a hat-trick against Brazil in the quarter-finals.”

Tottenham are keeping tabs on Dominic Solanke ahead of a possible summer move for the Bournemouth striker, according to a report in The Sun.

Solanke scored his first Premier League hat-trick in the Cherries’ 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The 26-year-old has scored 12 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions for Andoni Iraola’s side and a source told The Sun that Spurs are “closely watching” Solanke.

“They’ve sent scouts to watch him already several times this season, and they will continue to track him into the New Year.

“He ticks a lot of boxes for Spurs, and Bournemouth know if he carries on showing the kind of form he is then they will struggle to stop other clubs from sniffing around him. They are bracing themselves for bids.”

Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United are the English clubs interested in a deal for Palmeiras starlet Estevao Willian.

Willian, otherwise known as ‘Messinho’, made his Palmeiras debut on December 6 and has his heart set on a move to Barcelona.

However, Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo says the Catalans’ financial difficulties means that the English trio, alongside Paris Saint-Germain, could make an approach.

“Messinho turns 17 on April 24, 2024, meaning he would not be able to arrive in Europe until the summer of 2025, but the ‘verdao’ club [Palmeiras] wants to close his sale now and follow the same path it has done with Endrick and Real Madrid, which – after he was signed – saw him [Endrick] remain at the Brazilian club until his age allowed him to move to Europe.”

Erik ten Hag claims that Manchester United do not intend to sell Anthony Martial in the January transfer window.

The 28-year-old only has six months left on his current deal, and United have not been in any rush to utilise their option to activate their further 12-month extension.

“United were restricted to signing Wout Weghorst on loan 12 months ago following the acrimonious departure of Cristiano Ronaldo but spent £72m in the summer on Rasmus Hojlund.

“The Denmark international has struggled to live up to his enormous price tag and has gone a worrying 14 games without scoring a Premier League goal.

“Martial, meanwhile, has fared little better, scoring only twice in all competitions this season but Ten Hag maintains he has little desire to let Martial leave with attacking options in such short supply.

“Asked ahead of tonight’s game against Aston Villa if there was any chance of Martial leaving next month, Ten Hag said: ‘When we have news, then of course I will tell it. But that is not our aim.’”