Liverpool and Arsenal are battling to sign Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Larsson, who has been dubbed the 'next Rodri'.
Larsson, 19, only joined Eintracht last summer from Swedish giants Malmo in a €9million (£7.6m) deal, but he's quickly broken into their first-team. The cool and composed midfielder has notably impressed in games against Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, displays which have piqued the interest of Liverpool and Arsenal.
According to German outlet Bild, the Premier League duo - who will do battle at the Emirates on Sunday - have both registered their interest. Liverpool are particularly keen to continue refreshing their midfield following a period of high-profile departures including captain Jordan Henderson and veteran James Milner. However, it's extremely unlikely that Larsson will move to England this month.
The summer transfer window is more likely to be the Sweden international's opportunity for an exit, but Eintracht have him tied down on a contract until 2028 and are in no rush to sell. It's said that the Bundesliga club believe they could eventually demand as much as €80m (£68.2m). That asking price will come as no surprise to those who've followed his progress since arriving in Frankfurt.
Larsson is a defensive-minded midfielder but has the ability to drive forward with the ball and make attacking runs, as showcased by his two goals and one assist in 17 league games. The Bundesliga's official website made comparisons to Manchester City linchpin Rodri, while a certain Kevin De Bruyne was also mentioned.
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"There are shades of Spanish holding midfielder Rodri in Larsson's game," a passage read. "While his close control and skilfulness also has notes of Rodri's Manchester City team-mate Kevin De Bruyne, who once starred for both Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg in Germany's top tier. It's a combination for Eintracht and Sweden fans to get excited about."
Interestingly, Larsson could've been a Chelsea player after going on trial at his "favourite club" during his youth. "It's clear that it was a great experience to go and play with Chelsea," the 19-year-old is quoted as saying.
Your turn! Who should Hugo Larsson sign for - Liverpool or Arsenal? Join the debate in the comments section.
Hugo Larsson's performances have caught the eye (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)"I trained with the team and also got to go to a tournament in Belgium. I also scored a goal. [The move] was a little too early. I did not think it would happen so fast. For me, it was better to continue my development at home, at Malmo. I want to break through at Malmo first before I go abroad."
Eintracht manager Dino Toppmoller was asked in December whether Larsson could one day be one of Europe's best midfielders and his response was emphatic. "Yes, he has what is needed. His talent and mentality are incredible," Toppmoller affirmed.
"The question is, how do you handle setbacks? I will take my hat off to how he's handled it. He lives football with everything that he has. You can see it in the individual video analysis. He asks, he wants to know everything and then says that he loves it and wants more."
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