As This Is Futbol revealed on Saturday, Premier League clubs Liverpool and Arsenal are both targeting Barcelona prospect Sergi Samper – dubbed by some as ‘the next Andrea Pirlo’.
Much like the Italy legend, the 20 year-old is famed for his playmaking abilities, boasting fantastic technical quality and vision, and has received his first taste of senior string action at the Nou Camp this season with a Champions League debut in September.
But with regular football still some way off for the Spain U21, he could seek first team opportunities abroad this summer rather than spending another year with Barcelona’s B string.
According to reports from The Metro over the weekend, Arsenal considered activating his £9.6million buy-out clause in January, but the same newspaper now claims it’s Liverpool leading the race for the Nou Camp prospect.
They moot Spanish sources in claiming Samper wants to leave this summer and the Reds are in ‘pole position’ for his signature.
Clearly a highly-rated young talent, however, other potential suitors will likely emerge before the summer.