The term 'the next' gets bandied around a lot in football - especially by the tabloids generating the ever-rotating transfer rumour mill.

Indeed, one impressive appearance at right-back for Fleetwood Town could soon lead a young starlet to the unofficial moniker of 'the next Gary Nevillem' or a handful of promising performances up front for Santos could quickly earn a striking whipper-snapper the title of 'the next Pele' - regardless of the fact he's considered to be the greatest player in the history of the sport.

None the less, 'the next' is a description that always captures the imagination, somehow propelling the past into the future, leaving you to consider what the 2015 equivalent of Dennis Bergkamp, Paul Ince or Bobby Moore might well look like.

And just like the rest of you, Football Fancast have been successfully drawn in, spending the last few hours trawling the darkest corners of the internet to find the top FIVE 'the next someones' all linked to Premier League side Arsenal.

THE NEXT LIONEL MESSI

The inspiration for this list, Arsenal have already completed the signing of 'the Next Lionel Messi' according to the tabloids.

As reported by Mirror Football on Sunday, the Gunners have agreed a £4.5million deal for Velez Sarsfield youngster Maxi Romero, despite still waiting upon his senior debut for the Argentine outfit, who has drawn comparisons with the four-time Ballon d'Or winner.

He's still some way off becoming North London's answer to the Barcelona icon, however, with plans to continue his development in Buenos Aires for the next two years before arriving at the Emirates in 2017.

THE NEXT PAUL SCHOLES

Lewis Cook

According to reports from The Daily Star last week, Arsenal are just one of five Premier League clubs courting the service of Leeds United midfielder Lewis Cook - dubbed 'the next Paul Scholes'.

The 18 year-old has emerged as a key member of the Whites' starting Xi this season since his Championship debut in August, going on to make 37 league appearances.

And he's become so important manager Neil Redfearn specifically bemoaned the midfielder's absence during a recent run of poor results - as reported by Here Is The City.

He certainly shares the Manchester United star's willingness to find the net from long range, but apart from that the Scholes comparison doesn't quite hold up.

Whilst the England international was famed for his passing ability and woeful tackling, Cook boasts averages of 2.2 tackles and 2.1 interceptions per-match this term, alongside a pass completion rate of 75%.

Nonetheless, there's plenty of buzz around the England U19, who boasts 24 caps for the Junior Lions across the youth levels, and few expect him to stay on at Elland Road past the current campaign.

If Arsenal wish to sign Cook this summer, however, The Star claim he'll set them back around £12million.

THE NEXT ANDREA PIRLO

Another prodigious midfielder on the Gunners radar is Barcelona product Sergi Samper, who has been compared to Italy's legendary playmaker Andrea Pirlo - as reported by The Metro this weekend.

The 20 year-old has spent the last two campaigns earning rave reviews for Barca's B string, but got his first taste of senior action earlier this season with three outings in the Copa del Rey and a Champions League debut.

And much like the Juventus star, Samper is a real pass-master, claiming the most passes of any player for either side - a whopping 102 - during his European outing against APOEL Nicosia back in September, finishing up with a completion rate of 93%.

According to The Metro, Arsenal have been monitoring the Spain U21 for some time and even considered activating his £9.4million release clause in January. The Mirror, however, claim Liverpool are also targeting the midfielder.

THE NEXT GIGI BUFFON

Arsenal are believed to be in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer and one name that's continually cropped up in the tabloids is Genoa's Mattia 'the next Gigi Buffon' Perin.

The Italy international has been in fantastic form this season, bagging the third-most saves of any Serie A goalkeeper - 75 in 26 appearances - whilst claiming six clean sheets.

And in direct parody of the Juventus man who joined the Turin outfit for a record-breaking £30million at just 22 years of age, Perin is widely expected to join a major European club for an equally ridiculous sum at some point over the next few years.

It won't happen this summer, however, despite Arsenal's alleged interest. The 22 year-old confirmed his plans to stay at Genoa for next season over the weekend, as reported by talkSPORT.

THE NEXT SERGIO AGUERO

Finishing off this list is a striker every major club in Europe - including Arsenal - want to get their hands on according to Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini - as reported by ESPN - Paulo Dybala.

Indeed, it's been a mesmerising campaign for the Rosanero front-man, propelling his side to eleventh in the Italian table with a potent haul of 13 goals and nine assists in 29 Serie A appearances.

He was dubbed 'the next Sergio Aguero' when he moved to Italy in 2012 and the 21 year-old is certainly living up to that moniker, sharing the Manchester City striker's blend of mobility, creativity, dribbling ability and deadly proficiency in front of goal.

Having ripped apart Serie A defences on a weekly basis for the last eight months, the young Argentine appears ready for the next level.

Zamparini wants €40million for his star man and The Metro claimed in March talks were already underway regarding a summer move to The Emirates.

These reports have since been refuted by Gunners shareholder Alisher Usmanov, however, as reported by Mirror Football - but one way or another, Dybala looks destined to join a top European outfit in the coming window.