Reports surrounding Manchester City's efforts to sign a striker have rumbled on for months, but on Friday they took an exciting, if not slightly unexpected, turn.
Various reports in Argentina and in Europe suggested that City are closing in on a deal to sign 21-year-old forward Julian Alvarez from Argentinian club River Plate.
City's prime target ahead of the summer is understood to be Erling Haaland, although it appears that the Borussia Dortmund man is thought to be keen on joining Real Madrid ahead of Pep Guardiola's side.
If City opt to go with Alvarez instead of - or as well as - Haaland, then it's likely that he would spend the rest of this season out on loan - in all probability back at River.
Pardon the pun, but this is all very out of the blue. Who exactly is Alvarez?
He has burst onto the scene over the past six months or so, having scored 18 goals in that period to push River Plate to the top of Argentina's Liga Profesional and become the division's top scorer. He largely plays as a striker or withdrawn striker, but can also play on either wing.
He has been coveted by a number of clubs in Europe including Inter Milan and Manchester United, but it now looks like City are the favourites to take his talent to the next level.
Alvarez made his senior Argentina debut in June last year, and it's fair to say that his countrymen are getting pretty hyped up about his potential.
"Alvarez is the most exciting Argentine prospect since Sergio Aguero back in the mid 2000s," Argentine football journalist Santi Bauza told City Is Ours . If that isn't enough to make you giddy then you clearly aren't a City fan.
"In many ways they are both very similar in their style. Like El Kun, Alvarez is very quick with the ball on his feet and to break away from his marker, can be involved during build-up and to finish chances. He is not afraid to shoot from anywhere, with full confidence that the ball will go in."
Sounds great, where do we sign?
The only issue might be that compared to Haaland, Alvarez is nowhere near as far along in his technical and physical development. Haaland is of course a freak of nature, but if City want to go with Alvarez then they will need to be patient and allow him time to develop under Guardiola.
"He needs to keep playing football regularly if he wants to cement his spot in Argentina's World Cup squad, and he knows it," says Santi. "Moving mid-season might be detrimental to Alvarez's short term development, and a move in June could be better suited for him towards his growth as a devastating withdrawn striker."
If City manage to sign Alvarez this month but loan him straight back, then that would appear to suit all parties.
In terms of fit, there seems no reason why Alvarez wouldn't work in Guardiola's side. His build-up play is good and his finishing lethal, both qualities Pep craves in a front-man.
From a cultural perspective too, he sounds a perfect fit. The image of Alvarez imitating Aguero's favourite goal celebration suggests that the legacy of Argentine goal-scorers at City would be safe in his hands.
"He could eventually be a terrific fit for Man City, given his qualities may be exactly what Guardiola wants for the leader of his line."
If Haaland does indeed fancy Madrid over Manchester, then Alvarez would be an extremely exciting signing.
All together now: 'We'veeeee got Julian Alvarezzzzz....'
For more insight on Julian Alvarez and Argentine football, follow Santi Bauza on Twitter.
Would you like City to continue the lineage of Argentine strikers? Follow our City Is Ours writer Alex Brotherton on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
