Premier League duo Liverpool and Brighton are now in the race to sign Kevin Mantilla after Rangers were linked with a move for the Colombia international defender last year.
That is according to Andres Fassi. And he should know, being the president of Talleres de Cordoba, after all.
Kevin Mantilla, a £1.5 million signing from Santa Fe last summer, is already attracting interest from clubs far higher up the football pyramid. And if Mantilla’s name feels oddly familiar to you Rangers supporters, well that’s probably because the coveted 20-year-old was linked with a move to Ibrox nearly 12 months ago, before taking his considerable talents to a Talleres outfit who finished second in Argentina’s top flight in 2023.
And if Rangers had any plans to renew their interest a year on, well Philippe Clement’s side would face no shortage of competition.
Not with Fassi confirming, in conversation with La Voz, that Mantilla is attracting glances from a bonafide European giant like Liverpool, and a Brighton side boasting a formidable track record when landing some of the game’s best up-and-coming talent.
One-time Rangers target now linked with Liverpool
“It’s true, they (Liverpool and Brighton) have been following him for four months now,” Fassi admits. “And they asked us for information about his physical records.”
Fassi insists that there are currently no plans to cash in on Mantilla. He is, after all, only a few months into a contract which runs until 2027. That stance could soften, however, if Liverpool or Brighton offer Talleres the chance to make a considerable profit, putting their Premier League riches to good use.
Another Brighton bargain?
Brighton have raided the South American market frequently in recent years, to often excellent effect. Alexis Mac Allister (now at Liverpool) moved to the South Coast alongside Julio Enciso, Facundo Buonanotte and, of course, Moises Caicedo.
The Seagulls are also expected to seal a £7.8 million deal for River Plate full-back Valentin Barco, HITC understands.
