By OkayGoal 
Who Is Lautaro Rivero?
The 22-year-old Argentine is among the most highly rated young defenders in South American football, offering a dominant aerial presence and efficient ball-playing abilities — traits that would translate well to the physical demands of the Premier League. His left-footed profile is one of the most sought-after and expensive traits in modern football, making him not just a defender, but also a genuine playmaker from the back.
Rivero earned his first Argentina cap towards the end of last season and is now in contention to be part of the World Cup squad.
The Transfer Race Is Heating Up
West Ham aren’t alone in this pursuit. Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United, and West Ham United lead the list of suitors ahead of the summer window.
Brighton would appear to be the favoured destination, given their track record of developing young South American talent and the absence of relegation fears that both Leeds and West Ham currently face.
The Relegation Problem
That’s the elephant in the room. River Plate could sell Rivero closer to the £17 million mark — a seismic £69 million discount on his release clause — but staying in the Premier League is essential to making any deal viable.