Liverpool interested in signing Lanus defender Julio Soler as Argentine club demand $15m fee for wonderkid

Liverpool have reportedly reached out to Liga Profesional side Lanus in an attempt to sign a left-back after observing Soler at the Olympics. Several top clubs are after Soler for a summer transfer after the 19-year-old impressed for Javier Mascherano's Argentina in Paris.

The 19-year-old has come up through the ranks of the Argentine club and was promoted to the first-team last season. He has already made 36 appearances for the side since then and is expected to be a part of Lanus' plans for the current season. As such, Argentine journalist German Garcia Grova has reported that the Argentine club will accept a $15 million (£12m) bid for Soler.

Liverpool view Soler as Andy Roberton's long-term replacement. Although the 30-year-old Scotsman is still the team's favourite left-back, they are starting to think about the future and they wish to use Soler as a backup as a result.

The 19-year-old's Olympic journey ended in heartbreak as Argentina lost to France in the quarter-finals, and he has now returned to Argentina, where he will recover return to action with Lanus while they discuss him future at the club.