Boca Juniors finds itself at the centre of a European transfer saga involving its young midfield sensation, Ezequiel Fernández.

As Premier League sides Arsenal and Brighton express keen interest, Boca faces the challenge of balancing the retention of their homegrown talent with the allure of lucrative European offers.

Boca Juniors are on high alert as Premier League giants Arsenal and Brighton join a host of European clubs chasing after their 21-year-old midfield gem, Ezequiel Fernández.

The young Argentine, who graduated from Boca’s academy and made his first-team debut in 2021, has established himself as a regular since returning from a loan spell at Club Atlético Tigre in 2022.

His impressive displays haven’t gone unnoticed, with Boca Noticias reporting that Arsenal and Brighton are among the clubs “closely following” the Argentina U23 international.

This interest has put Boca on “alert” as they anticipate potential offers for their prized asset. With several European teams, including the Gunners, “trying to take him away,” Boca fear they could lose Fernández in the near future.

Boca reportedly understand that Fernández’s long-term future likely lies in Europe, but they are determined to hold onto him for as long as possible. The club hopes to capitalise on his inevitable departure by securing a “large amount of money” when the time comes.

Transfermarkt currently values Fernández at €8 million, but Boca could potentially fetch a much higher fee for their talented midfielder.

The interest in Fernández is just one of several concerns for Boca Juniors as they approach the transfer deadline. The Argentine giants are also eager to complete the signing of Chilean forward Carlos Palacios before the window closes, adding further pressure to their already busy transfer market activity.

One thing is certain: Boca Juniors are on high alert, and they know they may have to brace themselves for the inevitable departure of one of their brightest young stars.