Estudiantes’ success in 2016 was always likely to attract admirers and according to reports Bundesliga club FSV Mainz 05 are targeting forward Carlos Auzqui in a $2.5 million January deal.

Rumours of interest in the 25-year-old had been circulating for days but neither Botafogo or Club León made official offers to Estudiantes. Details of the $2.5 million fee had already been released but it now appears that Mainz are the side that look most likely to activate that clause.

Initially any deal appeared more likely in June allowing Auzqui to complete the current season in La Plata but the same reports are now suggesting that it could be pushed through in January.

Despite a poor end to the year, El Pincha remain in the title race and before suffering a first defeat of the season to Banfield in round eleven had looked in terrific form. Auzqui’s pace on the counter had been central to that and having scored four goals and forming a dangerous attack with Lucas Viatri, his absence would be keenly felt by Nelson Vivas.

If Auzqui does indeed move to Mainz, he could team up with former Gimnasia winger Pablo de Blasis, who was rumoured to be on Edgardo Bauza’s watch list earlier in the year.