Who is the next Garnacho with £17m release clause Manchester United are battling to sign

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Manchester United are one of a number of Premier League clubs who have held talks with River Plate starlet Agustin Ruberto and they can get him for £17 million in the January transfer window.

We are nearing the two-year anniversary of Julian Alvarez’s bargain £14 million move to Man City.

And, knowing what they know now, it’s not hard to imagine that Manchester United would have taken Ralf Rangnick’s advice a little more seriously when the former Red Devils coach instructed them to beat their local neighbours to the punch and snap up a player who would go on to win the World Cup, the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League since moving to the North West.

Rangnick, speaking to The Guardian, admitted that he recommended Alvarez, Luis Diaz and Dusan Vlahovic to United before they completed moves to City, Liverpool and Juventus respectively.

Now, that ship may have sailed but another is entering the harbour.

Manchester United in Agustin Ruberto talks

90Min report that Man United – perhaps driven by their failures of the recent past – are taking a keen interest in another baby-faced Argentine rising through the ranks at River Plate. Erik ten Hag’s side, along with Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and co, have held initial ‘talks’ over Ruberto, though City are supposedly ‘confident’ that the teenager will follow in Alvarez’s Etihad footsteps.

The success of the latter in English football should, however, give United that little bit of extra motivation to ensure that a repeat scenario does not occur.

Agustin Ruberto profiled

• Age: 17
• Date of birth: 6th January, 2006
• Position: Striker
• Club: River Plate
• Nationality: Argentine
• Contract: Until 31st December, 2024

Ruberto, Ole say, has a £17 million release clause in his contract. That will rise to £22 million later in the window. As such, United would benefit from acting quickly and decisively.

Two words not usually associated with the Glazers, of course, but the club’s recruitment should be boosted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe taking control of football operations.

Anoither Alejandro Garnacho

Ruberto won the Golden Boot after scoring eight goals for Argentina at the recent Under 17 World Cup. With his quick feet, impressive end product and his composure in the final third, comparisons will inevitably be drawn with Alejandro Garnacho, another Albiceleste talent making quite the name for himself at Old Trafford.

“I consider myself a number nine in the box, with good aerial presence,” says Ruberto, who sees his future through the middle rather than out wide (TYC). “I shoot with both foot and can turn well.

“What I need is to calm down a little more, which is something I am working on a lot. I like Robert Lewandowski, because he is a very technical player.”