Aston Villa are interested in signing Argentina starlet Julian Alvarez this summer as Dean Smith plots to land his third new player of the transfer window.

What's the story?

After sealing deals for Emi Buendia and Ashley Young, it seems that Villa are intent on continuing their fine start to the summer transfer window by making a move for Alvarez.

According to Italian publication Calciomercato, the 21-year-old's agent Fernando Hidalgo will meet up with both Ajax and Villa over a potential move which would see Alvarez leave River Plate for Europe.

Dean Smith will be buzzing

A versatile forward who can play anywhere across the frontline, Alvarez is making waves in his native Argentina, so much so that he was named as part of his country's Copa America squad for this summer.

He bagged four goals and set up another seven in just 20 appearances last season, including a couple of games where he registered a trio of assists against Godoy Cruz and Central Cordoba respectively.

Marcelo Gallardo, his manager at River Plate, has also waxed lyrical about the winger, saying that he is "a player that every coach would love to have."

At his age, and coming with such a glowing comment of being a manager's dream, Alvarez appears to be the kind of signing that Smith would surely love to have at Villa Park this summer.

The £13.5m-rated flier is capable of playing on either flank and through the middle, so he should go a long way to addressing Villa's strength in depth in the forward areas.

With Trezeguet sidelined with a long-term injury, Alvarez would arrive as someone who could take the Egyptian's place in the first team squad, while also offering some competition for Ollie Waktins up front.

It's exactly why Smith will surely be buzzing that the youngster's agent is due to meet with Villa representatives over a possible move.

Meanwhile, Dean Smith could land a superb deal with this Euro 2020 sensation...