When Liverpool confirmed last week that they had agreed to sign Kolo Toure on a free transfer from Manchester City in July, the news was met with a mixture of confusion and amusement.
However, just a couple of days later, reports emerged that the Reds had met the release clause for Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas. This time the overriding reaction was one of intrigue - just what will the Merseysiders be getting for their reported £7.7m purchase?
Well, in a struggling Vigo side, the 25-year-old striker has still managed to find the net on 12 occasions in La Liga this season, with one match left to play. When you take into consideration the fact that the Sky Blues have scored just 36 goals, it is clear just how important his contribution has been over the last few months.
He played an equally prominent role 12 months earlier by finding the net 23 times to help his side gain promotion to the Spanish top flight from the Segunda Division for the first time since 2007.
So, that is his goals record, but with talisman Luis Suarez keen to move on, what type of player will be arriving at Anfield? Is he a direct replacement for the controversial Uruguayan?
The Celta number 10 may not possess the clinical touch of say a Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao or even Suarez, but he is quick off the mark and has the ability to drop a shoulder and burst beyond his marker - a trait that has also seen him win penalties.
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Manager Brendan Rodgers has shown from his time at Watford, Reading, Swansea City and now Liverpool that he tends to favour playing with a lone striker, something that Aspas has done numerous times since he was promoted to the Celta senior side in 2008.
What is likely to have impressed Rodgers more though is the fact that he can play either left or right of a centre-forward in a similar way that Daniel Sturridge did with Suarez last season. Whether he would be able to get close to Suarez's 22-goal contribution remains to be seen, but he would certainly provide more versatility and pace to the Liverpool front line.
"I hope Liverpool fans are happy with the arrival of Iago Aspas for €9m. Pace, goal, commitment. Key - adaptation to England," Spanish football expert and Sky Sports pundit Guillem Balague recently wrote on Twitter. "Aspas: forward that can play wide and striker. Fast running with ball, great finisher. One of top youngsters in Spain. And soon will be confirmed.
"I think Aspas is ready for the Liverpool lineup. I can picture instant impact. He'll have 2 find consistency. But I'd be happy if Lpol fan."
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Meanwhile, former Valencia, Barcelona and Middlesbrough midfielder Gaizka Mendieta added: "I do believe Aspas has the quality/ability to be successful in the Premier but there are other influences that could affect his game?! Living in a new country, new team, new teammates, new manager, new club, new lifestyle...things that could affect his game."
Only time will tell if Aspas is to be a success in England, but he will arrive with a lot of potential and expectation, particularly from those with a firm knowledge of the Spanish game.
His signing is also another clear indication of Rodgers's vision for Liverpool. Just as he did at Swansea, the Northern Irishman has started to recruit diminutive but high quality footballers - Philippe Coutinho was the first to join in January and it now looks that Aspas is about to link up with the Brazilian.
Liam Apicella
