Aston Villa are eyeing River Plate attacker Julian Alvarez.

The Birmingham Mail says Villa completed a club-record £33million deal for Emiliano Buendia earlier in the window, a move which was aided by his Argentina teammate Emi Martinez.

And Alvarez - a 21-year-old forward with one Argentina cap - could become the latest player from the South American power nation to join Villa.

Calciomercato.com, meanwhile, reports Alvarez's agent Fernando Hidalgo was due to fly to Europe on Thursday to hold discussions with Villa and Dutch champions Ajax.

It is claimed a deal could be done for around £15million.

Diario Ole were reporting on Friday that River 'fear' Alvarez will leave the club this summer and that Villa are a step closer to putting an offer on the table.