Manchester City agree £21million fee to sign Julian Alvarez from River Plate

Manchester City have agreed to sign Argentine striker Julian Alvarez from River Plate.

According to multiple media reports in England and Argentina, City have struck a deal to prise the 21-year-old forward from the Argentine giants for £15million.

But the forward, who last November led River to win a first league title in seven years, is not expected to move to City imminently and is instead due to arrive at the Etihad in the summer.

Manchester City have beaten a host of top clubs to sign Julian Alvarez, according to reports

Despite a £15m deal with River Plate, Alvarez won't join Pep Guardiola's side until the summer

Argentine newspaper Ole reported that City have agreed to pay River £15m but the Buenos Aires side are insisting that Alvarez remains at their club until June at the earliest.

There is even a suggestion in Argentina that Alvarez could stay for the entire of 2022, moving to City in January 2023 so that he can play for River in the latter stages of the Copa Libertadores, Argentina's equivalent of the Champions League, which runs until November.

Alvarez hit 18 goals last season to fire River to a first national title since 2014, also finishing top scorer in the division. 

He is also a full Argentina international and was part of the team that won the Copa America last year, although he is yet to start for his country, so far being limited to four appearances as a substitute.

His form for River quickly attracted the attention of Europe's top clubs, with Inter Milan and Manchester United reportedly showing a big interest in signing him.

But City look to have won the race for his signature, in another transfer coup for coach Pep Guardiola and sporting director Txiki Begiristain.

Alvarez fired River Plate to the Argentine league title in November with 18 goals

Alvarez is set to tread a similar path to Sergio Aguero, who ended up at City after a breakthrough season in Argentina

City have been on the look out for a new forward after selling Ferran Torres to Barcelona for £55million earlier this month.

They are set to spend little more than a quarter of that money on Alvarez, who is the same age as Torres.

Alvarez is not the only Argentine to end up at City after a superb season in his home country.

Sergio Aguero took the national league by storm in his first season for fellow Buenos Aires side Independiente, earning him a £16million move to Atletico Madrid in 2006.

He moved to City in 2011 for £35million and went on to become the club's all-time top scorer and kicking off a decade of dominance by winning them the 2011/12 Premier League title with his injury-time goal against Queens Park Rangers. 

Alvarez is the latest youngster to thrive at River Plate under highly-respected coach Marcelo Gallardo, who has transformed the club's fortunes since taking over the club in 2014, leading them to win two Copa Libertadores titles.

'He is a very versatile player who is willing to play anywhere and take on a lot of responsibility. Right now he is on the cusp of becoming a very important player,' Gallardo said last month after Alvarez scored twice in a 4-0 win over Colon to lift the Champions Trophy, Argentina's version of the Community Shield. 

River Plate boss Marcelo Gallardo hailed Alvarez as a versatile player who is about to be a star