“He has the skill, he can pick a pass, he can distribute it, he’s a well-gifted lad and he might be at an age now with the right manager, in the right team – he’d be as good as he’d promised to be years ago.

“I think he’d be made for Guardiola because he’d be playing with top-class players. I think he’d have the respect for Guardiola and, at 28, he’d know this is the last chance. It would be a gamble, but I don’t think you’d have to pay that much for him.

“This guy, when he’s playing, he’s up there with the best, but particularly now, he is as good as there is in the Premier League.”