Arsenal and Liverpool are apparently scouting Dani Ceballos, a player dubbed ‘the next Fabregas’.

The report, which first featured in the Mirror, states that with less than a year left on his contract, the 19-year-old has caught the attention of the two clubs due to his £7.5m buyout clause.

Russia's Denis Yakuba (L) vies for the ball with Spain's Dani Ceballos (R) during the UEFA 2015 European U-19 Championship final football match between Russia and Spain at the Municipal Stadium in Katerini, Greece, on July 19, 2015. AFP PHOTO / STRINGER
Russia’s Denis Yakuba (L) vies for the ball with Spain’s Dani Ceballos (R) during the UEFA 2015 European U-19 Championship final football match between Russia and Spain at the Municipal Stadium in Katerini, Greece, on July 19, 2015. AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

Of course, the Mirror fail to mention that only a few days ago the player himself stated that he had no intention of leaving Real Betis for ‘many years’ which kind of contradicts their claims that his club are afraid he will leave for nothing in the summer.

“I want to continue at Betis and enjoy these fans for many years,” Ceballos said at the start of September.

“That they trust me because I have never failed them. I have always given everything for this shirt and I only think about returning all of the affection that I have received from the Beticos.

“[Reports of a move to Arsenal or Liverpool] They are only rumours, what I want is to stay at Betis.”

This will come as no surprise to anyone who pays close attention to the papers, especially in regards to transfer rumours. The Mirror did, after all, claim that Galatsaray were confident of a deadline day move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain AFTER the window had closed in Turkey.

It’s not clear where these new rumours have come from, but the fact that the Mirror didn’t even mention these comments, which were made recently, leads me to believe they haven’t even done the most basic research on this story, let alone anything comprehensive that might suggest they know what they’re talking about.