Having just helped Argentina’s under-20s to the South American championship title, centre back, Emanuel Mammana is already now being linked with a move to Europe. Tottenham and Atlético Madrid have reportedly been scouting the 19-year-old ahead of a potential summer transfer.

Mammana’s potential is huge and so it comes as little surprise that European clubs are keeping an eye on his development. As captain of the River youth sides, he has been on the radar of Argentine football fans for some time and after making his full international debut against Slovenia before the World Cup he became only the second player, after Javier Mascherano to represent the national side before making a senior appearance at club level.

This substitute appearance only intensified the belief that Mammana could be the next great Argentina defender but with still only two first team appearances for River he is still far from the finished product. Ahead of the South American championship, Mammana, along with the likes of Angel Correa, was one of the “big” names in Argentina’s squad and both proved to be influential.

Humberto Grondona selected Mammana at the centre of his back three for every available match and was rewarded by the side lifting the trophy for the first time since 2003.

A good reader of the game and very comfortable on the ball, Mammana is capable of bringing the ball out of defence and assisting the transition into attack but he is still guilty of individual errors and at times over committing in tackles. At 19, this is expected and he has someway to go in his development. At times the expectation on his shoulders is huge and no doubt this will have fuelled the rumours of transfers.

Certainly moving to a club where he received limited playing time will do his progression no good at all. Hopefully, under Marcelo Gallardo at River, who has shown great faith in his youth players, Mammana will gradually come through this season. With the Copa Libertadores campaign, River will have plenty of matches and this experience could be far more valuable.

If Mammana develops anywhere near the level that many expect, a move to Europe is inevitable. If he remains at River for a time, it is likely that any transfer fee would increase and would surely also benefit the player.