Liverpool fans everywhere are revelling in the news they will sign Takumi Minamino in January.
It’s understandable too, the Japan international looked the part against them in the Champions League for Red Bull Salzburg.
A transfer fee of £7.25million means it could be prove to be one of the bargains of the new decade if he comes good at Anfield – and you wouldn’t put it past him.
The 24-year-old certainly has the talent and the endeavour to succeed in English football having spent five years in Austria, where Sadio Mane once plied his trade.
But while the Japan ace could potentially be the final piece in Liverpool’s Premier League title win – what if his addition unbalances the squad?
Right now, the Reds are perfectly formed, even if they have slowed in recent weeks with Adrian the club’s only senior signing in the summer.
History even suggests such a move might be a risk for the Reds, even though the tale has been blown out of proportion.
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When Newcastle United landed Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla in February 1996 they were nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Kevin Keegan’s ‘Entertainers’ had 57 points from 24 games but could only gain another 21 from their remaining 14 matches, allowing Manchester United to sneak in and steal the trophy away.
Many still point the finger of blame at the flamboyant forward, who joined from Parma for £6.7m but this isn’t quite the full story.
On his debut, though, Asprilla was actually a match-winner helping them come back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 against Middlesbrough.
And while his involvement did cause reshuffles with Keith Gillespie out and Peter Beardsley now on the right, any accusations of him disrupting the title charge were misplaced.
Many praised his performances and conceded other players around him failed to step up as results began to slide.
The signing of David Batty, to add steel to the Magpies’ soft underbelly, just didn’t pan out. Newcastle lost four of the ex-Blackburn ace’s first six games.
“Everybody has got this idea that it was him who cost us the title but that wasn’t the case,” added ex-Toon defender Steve Howey. “There were another 10 players out there and we all take responsibility for that. But let’s not take it away from Manchester United. They went on an unbelievable run.”
Keegan’s side simply couldn’t quite get things right once it all went wrong and even Asprilla’s excellence couldn’t save them.
Another teammate, Beardsley, also felt it was harsh to suggest it was his fault.
“It simply wasn’t true,” he said. “Asprilla was a magnificent player. He had a sublime touch, great vision and a footballer’s mind.”
Either way, the two events remain linked by those rewriting history.
Asprilla’s name entered a list of players whose arrival destabilised title bids, including Rodney Marsh at Manchester City in 1972 and Aston Villa signing Tony Cascarino in 1990 before they fell away in their bid to claim the penultimate First Division.
Surely even Minamino can’t derail Liverpool’s charge for the title given their current 11-point lead at the top and even if they did lose it, would it really be down to one player?
It won’t be, but that won’t stop football fans pointing fingers and casting blame.