River Plate's defender Gonzalo Montiel (left) and Peru's Binacional midfielder Yorkman Tello vie for the ball during their Copa Libertadores football match at the Monumental stadium, in Buenos Aires, on March 11, 2020. (JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)

BUENOS AIRES — Real Betis and Valencia are among a host of European clubs interested in signing River Plate right-back Gonzalo Montiel, according to media reports in Argentina.

Montiel, who has a 20 million-euro (US$22 million) buyout clause written into his River contract, is tied to the Buenos Aires club until June next year

Betis are frontrunners to secure the 23-year-old as a backup to Brazilian Emerson, who is currently on loan from Barcelona, the Ole news portal said on Saturday.

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Other clubs said to considering a move for Montiel are Roma and Inter Milan. West Ham United had a 10 million euro-offer for the defender rejected by River Plate in January.

Montiel, who has a 20 million-euro (US$22 million) buyout clause written into his River contract, is tied to the Buenos Aires club until June next year.

He has made 64 first-team appearances for River and has been capped twice for Argentina's national team.  

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