Ruben Pardo could be the next Gerrard

Ruben Pardo has also been called the next Xabi Alonso and rightfully so, the 21-year-ol Real Sociedad 'regista' is already a master passer, especially of the long ball.  Last season, he completed 155 of 215 long balls, a rate of 72.1%, those are Alonso (172/226, 76.1%) and Gerrard-esque (257/350, 73.4%) numbers.

Here's how Pardo and Gerrard compare from last season:

	Pardo	Gerrard
age	21	34
npg90	0.14	0.09
gcp90	0.53	0.81
ccp90	1.39	2.1
ap90	0.38	0.4
ccv	27.3	19.1
pass %	85.5	85.9
bp %	35.1	30.6
sacc %	45	51.7
shot %	15	27.1
TTI90	9.9	10.9
intp90	1.48	1.49
clrp90	0.39	2.83
drpp90	1.12	0.68
tp90	1.76	3
ts%	35.8	52.2
gap90	1.2	1.37
gsp90	2.01	2.67
gop90	0.81	1.3
tgop	0.18	1.32
gopd	0.63	-0.02

If you take away Gerrard's ten penalty goals, Pardo actually has a better goals created per 90, shot accuracy percentage, and shot percentage, but the Spaniard is a ways away from reaching Stevie-G's defensive prowess.  Pardo does have a lower turnover rate and probably the most impressive is his goals on pitch difference.  Where Gerrard is about even, Pardo makes his side 0.63 goals better per 90 minutes.

Pardo obviously has some work to do on defence, but the fact that he has such a great gopd, means he's got to be doing something right.  For a 21-year-old though, his attack stats are off the charts.  It is rare to find a young player with such composure on the ball, especially one who's pinpoint passing leads to a chance created value of 27.3.

If I were Rodgers, I would pay Sociedad his £24m release clause and loan him back if he's not ready to leave.  That may sound crazy, but there's no point in having him watch from the stands when he can develop in La Liga.