Aston Villa have been handed a major blow in their chase to sign River Plate starlet Julian Alvarez in this January transfer window.
What's the story?
Reports in recent weeks and months had claimed that Fernando Hidalgo, the agent of the 21-year-old, was set to meet with Villa's representatives over a move to Steven Gerrard's side ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
That of course failed to materialise, and now, The Birmingham Mail's Ashley Preece has revealed that the Argentine is instead set for a move to Old Trafford.
He said: "I believe he's Manchester United-bound. Villa looked to have missed a trick for £17m. Trez, Traore and Bailey all missing for the next month."
Blow for Villa
Like Emi Buendia, Alvarez is very much a creative attacker bagging four goals and setting up another seven in just 20 appearances last season - including a couple of games where he registered an impressive hat-trick of assists against Godoy Cruz and Central Cordoba.
This campaign however has seen him take his game to a completely another level, scoring 18 goals and providing another seven assists in just 21 games in the Argentine top-flight.
Given his ability to play anywhere across the front-line, and his age, Alvarez seems like the perfect profile of player that could have flourished alongside his fellow Argentine compatriots in Buendia and Emi Martinez.
The duo could have helped Alvarez settle into life at Villa Park a bit more comfortably than he may otherwise would have done, and the fact he's now headed for a switch to United shows just how highly-rated he is.
Preece's update is a major blow that will surely frustrate Villa fans that they have let an exciting young talent slip through the net.