Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly in competition for Lanus defender Julio Soler.
The 19-year-old has made 58 appearances for his current side, while he has been capped at Under-20s and Under-23s level by Argentina, with the youngster regarded as one of the best young talents in the country.
According to Soy del Millo, Man United and Liverpool are 'fighting' for Soler, but there is also strong interest from River Plate, with the Argentine giants determined to win the race for his signature.
The report claims that Liverpool view him as a potential long-term replacement for Andrew Robertson, while Man United are looking to add another left-back to their squad due to the uncertainty surrounding the futures of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Shaw continues to struggle with injury problems, and Napoli are said to be lining up an ambitious move for the England international in January, while Malacia has found it difficult since returning to action following a long-term knee problem.
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Man United, Liverpool 'both keen' on Soler
Man United are believed to have agreed a deal to sign Diego Leon from Cerro Porteno, with the 17-year-old set to make the move to Old Trafford at the start of the 2025 summer transfer window.
However, Leon is regarded as a player for the future, and another left-sided defender will be required if both Shaw and Malacia move on, with Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim set to continue with his 3-4-3 formation.
Soler represented Argentina at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while he also earned a call-up into the senior Argentina squad in October following an injury to Marcos Acuna, but he is still waiting to earn his first cap at that level.
At this stage, the youngster's future is said to be 'open', with a number of other clubs believed to be in the race for a player who has a contract with Lanus until the summer of 2026.
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Which team are the favourites for Soler?
A move to 38-time Argentine champions River would make sense for Soler at this stage of his career, with a switch to a major European league potentially occurring at a later date.
However, the defender's performances have been hugely impressive, and it would not be a shock to see either Liverpool or Man United sign him, with the former perhaps slightly ahead of their rivals.
Man United are set to bring in Leon next year, so it would be slightly surprising if another young left-back arrived, but Liverpool clearly need a long-term replacement for Robertson, with the Reds preparing to boost their options in that area of the field next summer.
Matt Law
