Éder Álvarez Balanta in action for Colombia is Europe bound.

River Plate President Rodolfo D’Onofrio has put several European sides on alert after telling Argentine radio programme America & Closs, “Balanta has asked if he can go to Europe and play.” West Ham and Liverpool have been strongly linked the past few weeks and with just £6 million reportedly enough it is expected a number of offers will be coming in soon.

The 21-year-old centre back has become one of the most sought after prospects in world football after bursting into River Plate’s first team and then getting called up by José Pékerman for the World Cup by Colombia.

Anyone who has watched Argentine football in the past year is sure that Álvarez Balanta is destined for big things. Not particularly tall but quick, strong, surprisingly good in the air and a good reader of the game, Balanta has all the attributes to play at the highest level.

West Ham had been said to have made an offer which was then denied by River but if the rumoured £6 million is correct then this would be an excellent piece of business.

Liverpool are in the market for a centre back and although Balanta is unproven it is a far cheaper option than the likes of Southampton’s Dejan Lovren.

A matter of weeks ago, River Vice-president Matias Patanian told Radio La Red “For the moment we only know, in an official way, that Juventus are making a big effort for Balanta.”

Juventus are just one of the European sides said to be interested. Barcelona, Roma, Inter Milan and Fiorentina have also been linked and a move in the coming weeks seems inevitable.