Former Argentina U20 international Patricio Perez is being linked with A-League club Central Coast Mariners.

The 24-year old midfielder, currently with San Martin de Tucuman of the Argentine Primera league, was recently scouted by new Mariners coach Graham Arnold when he was in South America and reports suggest Perez could be ready to make the move down under.

Perez begun his career with prominent Argentine club Velez Sarsfield in 2002 before moving onto Club Leon in 2005 and then returning to Velez. He has also played with Chilean club Everton prior to going back to Argentina where he played with Chacarita Juniors, made a brief return to Velez and then joined San Martin in 2008.

Perez was a member of the Argentine squad that won the 2005 U20 World Cup in Holland.