Manchester City join Brighton in race for Boca Juniors talent Leonel Flores

Manchester City's owners have emerged as the latest admirers of Boca Juniors forward Leonel Flores, adding further Premier League interest to one of Argentina's fastest-rising young talents.

According to Argentine outlet El Intransigente, the City Football Group has been closely monitoring the 19-year-old striker, although no formal approach has yet been made. Boca Juniors are nevertheless preparing for the possibility of transfer interest escalating before the summer window closes.

The development follows recent reports linking Brighton with Flores, highlighting the growing attention surrounding the teenage forward.

While Manchester City have not entered formal negotiations, Flores is firmly on the radar of the City Football Group's global scouting network.

The organisation has built a reputation for identifying elite young talent before their market value significantly increases, particularly in South America. Flores now appears to be the latest player attracting that attention after his rapid rise through Boca's academy.

Whether the interest develops into an official bid remains uncertain, but Boca are aware that clubs from the Premier League are watching closely.

Flores has enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough over the past year.

The striker scored 19 goals and provided five assists in 51 appearances for Boca Juniors' reserve side before earning his senior debut under Rodolfo Arruabarrena.

He has wasted little time making an impression, scoring one goal in his first three first-team appearances and quickly establishing himself as one of the club's most exciting emerging talents.

His performances have generated strong support among Boca fans, many of whom are calling for him to receive more regular first-team opportunities as the new season progresses.

Despite growing interest from abroad, Boca are under no immediate pressure to sell.

Flores remains under contract until December 2029, giving the Argentine giants a strong negotiating position should clubs decide to formalise their interest.

The report adds that club president Juan Román Riquelme remains committed to maximising the value of Boca's brightest academy graduates rather than sanctioning an early departure.

The teenager's reputation has also continued to grow within Argentina. Earlier this year, World Cup winner Leandro Paredes highlighted Flores as one of Boca's standout young prospects, while the striker has increasingly been mentioned alongside fellow academy talent Tomás Aranda as one of the club's brightest future assets.

Manchester City's interest is not the only Premier League link.

Brighton, whose recruitment strategy has consistently focused on emerging South American talent, have also been credited with monitoring Flores in recent weeks.

With two English clubs now linked to the striker, Boca may soon face difficult decisions if concrete offers begin to arrive.

However, for now, Flores remains focused on continuing his development in Buenos Aires as his reputation continues to grow.

Manchester City and Brighton are expected to continue scouting Flores over the coming weeks before deciding whether to submit formal offers. Boca Juniors remain determined to keep the striker unless an exceptional proposal arrives, meaning any negotiations are likely to depend on whether Premier League interest develops beyond routine monitoring.