Sunderland have been named among the clubs keeping an eye on Paraguay midfielder Matías Galarza after his impressive performances at the World Cup. However, the Black Cats appear to be some way behind the leading contenders at this stage.

Greek outlet Sportdog reports the 22-year-old is attracting growing interest following Paraguay’s run to the last 16. They will face France after eliminating Germany on penalties.

According to the report, Sunderland are one of several European clubs to have shown interest in Galarza. Olympiacos, Getafe, Monza and Strasbourg are also mentioned.

But the Greek side and the La Liga club are described as the strongest contenders based on information from agent circles in Buenos Aires.

World Cup has changed transfer picture

Matías Galarza’s stock has risen sharply over the past two weeks. After beginning the tournament on the bench against the United States, he forced his way into Paraguay’s starting XI. Since then, he has become one of their standout performers.

He scored the winner against Turkey in the group stage before delivering an assist in the dramatic last-32 victory over Germany. He also converted his penalty in the shootout after completing all 120 minutes.

His versatility has also stood out. Galarza has featured both as a central midfielder and on the left side of midfield during Paraguay’s World Cup campaign.

Before the tournament, River Plate were reportedly prepared to listen to offers in the region of €4.5m-5m (£3.9m-4.3m). They had even considered using him as part of potential swap discussions with Real Betis involving other transfer targets.

Sunderland may now face a higher asking price

Those plans appear to have changed. Sportdog claims River are now expected to increase their valuation after Galarza’s displays. Meanwhile, clubs from Europe, Brazil and MLS are all monitoring his situation. The player himself is said to favour a move to Europe if he leaves Argentina.

For Sunderland, this should be treated cautiously. The report cites information emerging from the Buenos Aires agent market rather than direct club sources. In addition, there is no suggestion the Black Cats have progressed beyond an initial level of interest.

But surely that would give Sunderland an obvious internal reference point if the interest develops. Omar Alderete’s presence on Wearside could help Sunderland make a stronger case to Galarza. This could be important if talks ever move beyond the initial stage.

Still, with Galarza’s value climbing almost by the game, Sunderland may soon have to decide whether to turn that reported interest into something more concrete. They may need to act before the midfielder becomes significantly more expensive.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR