Premier League club, Everton are reportedly in discussions with Copa Libertadores champions River Plate over a £5.5 million deal for central defender, Ramiro Funes Mori. The 24-year-old has been a central figure in River’s recent successes under manager Marcelo Gallardo and after scoring in the Copa Libertadores final just over a week ago, a move to Europe is now strongly rumoured.

Roberto Martínez’s Everton are supposed to be nearing an agreement having sold defenders Sylvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz earlier in the window and now in need of defensive reinforcements. The Toffees have a strong first-choice pairing in Phil Jagielka and 21-year-old, Chelsea target, John Stones and Martínez will hope that Funes Mori will provide competition and cover as the season progresses.

Ramiro Funes Mori made his debut for River in 2011 while the Buenos Aires giants were competing in their only season outside the top flight and although he briefly lost his place under Ramón Díaz to talented Colombian Éder Álvarez Balanta he has since forged an excellent partnership with Jonathan Maidana at the heart of River’s defence. In the past two years he has played a crucial role in River lifting a 35th league title, the Copa Sudamericana, the Recopa Sudamericana and most recently the Copa Libertadores.

At 6 foot three, Funes Mori is a powerful and aggressive central defender who poses an aerial presence in both penalty boxes. He is also comfortable on the ball and illustrated earlier in the season that he is capable of hitting a decent free-kick with a superb left-footed strike against Temperley.

However, Funes Mori is guilty of lapses in concentration and defensive errors and at times is reliant on his defensive partner. Still relatively young, any watching scouts might hope that with further coaching these mistakes will be ironed out of the 24-year-old but that is a risk.

There are countless examples in world football of those defenders who have all the attributes to excel and are capable of producing sound performances for 89 minutes only to switch off and be culpable for a goal. At present, Funes Mori falls into this category and although his desire and his commitment can never be faulted, his rashness prevents him from being a top defender.

That is not to say that he is lacking in supporters as Marcelo Gallardo has always shown huge faith in him during a period of enormous success, the River fans hold him in high regard since scoring a winning header in La Bombonera last year and Argentina manager, Gerardo Martino has admitted he is a player that is being watched ahead of future squad announcements.

River Plate will be loathed to lose Funes Mori when they are in midst of a title challenge and due to travel to Japan in December for the World Club Cup. However, £5.5 million is a vast sum for a cash-strapped Argentine football club and if indeed the money is on the table then it will be difficult for president Rodolfo D’onofrio to say no.