Liverpool have confirmed Argentinian centre-back Gabriel Paletta will join them on a four-year deal this summer, subject to a medical.

Paletta, who is 20 tomorrow, will join the club from Atletico Banfield.

The player featured in Argentina’s Under-20 World Championship win last year and is regarded as a strong, robust defender who had attracted interest from a number of clubs.

Banfield had said at the weekend that any deal would have to wait until the summer but Liverpool have been able to agree terms now.

It is thought the club will have to pay around £2million for the player.

He will become the second Argentinian to join Liverpool following Mauricio Pellegrino last year. His signing would continue Rafael Benitez’s defensive recruitment following the recent acquisitions of Dan Agger and Jan Kromkamp.