5 potential suitors for wantaway Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira

5. Valencia

And if a frosty Arsenal history between Emery and Torreira dampens hopes of a reunion, an offer from Yellow Submarine rivals Valencia could be on the cards.

Once a real force on the La Liga scene, Valencia have fallen way off the pace in recent years and they ended last season with a disappointing but improved ninth-place finish. Their latest bid for better fortunes came in the form of Gennaro Gattuso’s appointment last week – the tenth permanent manager since Peter Lim took over the club in 2014 – but they are still mired in financial uncertainty and a rise in protests against Lim’s stewardship indicate matters will remain bleak for the foreseeable future.

On the surface, this seems like a place to avoid, but Gattuso’s patient and evolving approach may yet appeal to a rejuvenated Torreira. Just like many of the other teams mentioned, the defensive midfielder typically drops into the backline and is tasked with orchestrating build-up phases, forming triangles with the centre-backs to facilitate ball progression and allowing teammates to move quickly up the field.

This might not only be beyond the pint-sized battler’s comfort zone, but there could also be too much work for him to do at the back as Gattuso’s previous sides have struggled to execute a proactive style without leaving themselves vulnerable to the counter-attack. However, Gattuso has slowly adapted his practices by encouraging the collective to drop deep when out of possession and a slight shift towards more pragmatic values could be of great benefit to Torreira as he goes about his defensive duties.

These are turbulent times at the Mestalla and while Torreira is capable of making it work, he would be best advised against completing a move.

Suitability Rating: 4/10