Boca Juniors are set to battle it out with an unnamed English club for talented striker Mauro Zarate.

The 21-year-old impressed during a loan spell at Birmingham over the second half of last season, scoring four times in what was ultimately a doomed battle against relegation for Blues.

City's failure to maintain their top-flight status ruled them out of the running for a player valued at £20million by his current employers, Qatar's Al-Sadd.

Argentinian giants Boca have now stepped in as a possible destination for Zarate with coach Carlos Ischia seeing him as an ideal replacement for the Lazio-bound Rodrigo Palacio.

But Sergio Zarate, Mauro's brother and agent, told the Clarin newspaper: "I have not received a call from any Boca officials yet.

"We have a possible offer from an English club and we want to sort things out this week."

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