Aston Villa join Manchester City in race for Boca Juniors prospect Lionel Flores

Aston Villa have entered the race to sign Boca Juniors youngster Lionel Flores on the final day of the summer transfer window, bringing them into competition with Manchester City for the highly rated Argentina forward.

Flores, 19, has quickly progressed from an academy prospect to a regular starter in the Argentine league, attracting interest from an increasing number of Premier League clubs.

Despite that growing attention, Aston Villa are not currently expected to make a formal offer for the player, even though his reported valuation makes him a relatively affordable option.

According to Argentine reports cited by Sport Witness, Aston Villa have added Flores to their list of attacking targets after the teenager emerged as one of Boca Juniors’ most prominent players.

The forward has established himself in Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s starting line-up. That represents a rapid rise for Flores, who had made only three appearances for Boca Juniors’ first team when reports first emerged of interest from Manchester City and Brighton.

Aston Villa have not submitted an official bid, and sources close to Boca Juniors do not expect one to arrive during the current year because of the limited time remaining before the transfer window closes.

However, a swift and sufficiently attractive offer could still persuade the Argentine club to consider allowing Flores to leave.

Flores’ contract with Boca Juniors runs until December 2029. Reports say the agreement contains a release clause worth about 13m euros, which is approximately £11.5m.

That figure is likely to make Flores an appealing option for clubs looking to invest in emerging talent without paying a significant fee at this stage of his development. His value could rise considerably if he continues to make an impact at senior level.

One of his main attractions is his versatility. Flores can operate in all three attacking positions and is also capable of playing as a second striker, giving potential suitors flexibility in how they use him.

He joined the Boca Juniors academy at the age of seven and made a strong impression in the club’s youth set-up during 2025. Flores scored eight goals in the Argentine top-flight reserve league during that campaign.

Since being promoted to the first team, he has played 11 matches and scored twice.

That progress helps explain why clubs are now assessing Flores more seriously. He is no longer viewed solely as an intriguing young player developing within the Boca Juniors academy; he has begun to make a tangible contribution for one of South America’s biggest clubs.

For Aston Villa, the combination of Flores’ ability to play in several attacking roles and the relatively low cost of his release clause makes him an attractive long-term investment. Nevertheless, there are no strong indications at present that the club will make a move for him before the transfer window closes.