As well as both Arsenal and Liverpool battling it out for the Premier League top spot, it now seems that they will be going head to head to land Marseille midfielder Mathieu Valbuena. The Express are reporting the story and say that if they are willing to stump up the £10m asking price then they are free to take him off their hands, but who is he and what could he offer the Premier League duo?
The Frenchman is a central midfielder who is all about keeping things simple and getting the best out of those around him. This season he has appeared 22 times in Ligue 1 but is now apparently surplus to requirements, and has a pass completion of 86%.
He is a player with impeccable technique and the way he can pick a pass would surely tempt any topflight club, but at 29 years of age he may be seen as a bit of a luxury player.
He has created 57 chances for his team-mates, according to Squawka, with five of those counting as assists, and he has chipped in with two goals himself.
He is the sort of player that would work well with either Steven Gerrard or Mathieu Flamini as he is a little more agile than them, and I think £10million seems about right in today’s climate.