River Plate have made an outstanding start to the Torneo Transición under Marcelo Gallardo but will now be bracing themselves for transfer movement before the European window closes. Valencia have reportedly made a €6 million offer for striker, Teófilo Gutiérrez while Liverpool might be keen on renewing their interest in 21-year-old defender, Éder Álvarez Balanta given that the price is now said to be only £4.3 million.

Gutiérrez has started the current season in his best form for River Plate, scoring five goals in the opening four fixtures, a run of seven consecutive games that makes him the first non-Argentine to do so.

Given the lack of options available to Gallardo in attack, River would hate to lose Teo at this stage but his form and obvious desire to move back to Europe make it increasingly possible.

Since the World Cup, Gutiérrez made his desire all too obvious and in truth was a little disrespectful of River but has not allowed that to detract from his performances this season. The 29-year-old Colombian is enjoying his best spell in a River shirt and after starting for Colombia in Brazil, he may well see this as his last opportunity to test himself in Europe.

River president, Rodolfo D’Onofrio has said that Teo is now happy to remain at River and they do not need to sell him. However, he admits that the presence of a third-party management group who also own Gutiérrez make it a little more complicated. Valencia are supposedly making a €6 million offer for Teo and this could be enough to see River lose their main source of goals.

With Fernando Cavanaghi out injured, River would be left with only Rodrigo Mora as a fit senior striker and youngsters, Lucas Boyé, Giovanni Simeone and Sebastián Driussi.

D’Onofrio is all too aware of River’s shortcomings in attack but is a little more at ease with the options available defensively. Éder Álvarez Balanta has not featured yet and despite months of speculation remains on River’s books. Whether he will by the end of the month remains to be seen.

Interest from Turkey and Italy has so far come to nothing but another interested party, Liverpool might be interested to know that the price for the 21-year-old appears to have dropped.

D’Onofrio has told reporters, “We value him now at £4.3 million. ‘The most important thing is that we can get the money now. We don’t want a loan or pay a small amount now. This is not possible for us.”

River need the money but at that price, Balanta represents excellent value. A 21-year-old centre back who was part of Colombia’s World Cup squad, who is comfortable on the ball and can also play full back would normally be expected to fetch a higher price.