If Junior Firpo can emulate the impact of the last left-back to swap Barcelona for the Premier League, the former Spain U21 international could be the latest inspired signing by Europe-bound West Ham United.
Like Lucas Digne before him, the 24-year-old moved to Camp Nou with a big price tag and an even bigger reputation.
Unfortunately, with arguably the finest left-back of the modern era still Barca’s undisputed first choice, Firpo may have to take a leaf out of Digne’s book and leave a Spanish superclub behind to fulfil the vast potential he showed at Real Betis.
Barcelona won’t stand in Firpo’s way either.
According to ESPN, the £18 million benchwarmer is one of a number of fringe players placed on the transfer market by a club that’s more than a billion euros in debt.
Southampton see the swashbuckling Firpo as an ideal replacement for Ryan Bertrand while West Ham, according to Mundo Deportivo, have expressed interest in a player who has already earned David Moyes’ seal of approval.
Moyes isn’t the only man at the London Stadium who would welcome Firpo with open arms either.
Here’s what some West Ham fans had to say on Twitter about the situation:
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