Jamie Carragher was impressed with Enzo Fernandez’s performance for Chelsea against Liverpool (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea and Arsenal have both broken through the £100million mark to sign midfielder reinforcements this summer, but Jamie Carragher believes Jude Bellingham still stands head and shoulders above the likes of Declan Rice and Enzo Fernandez.
Argentina international Fernandez joined Chelsea in January but showed only fleeting glimpses of his potential during a turbulent first six months at Stamford Bridge.
A man of the match display against Liverpool last weekend, however, highlighted the key role he appears destined to play under Mauricio Pochettino, while the arrival of Moises Caicedo, for a British record transfer fee, is only likely to prove beneficial to his hopes of providing attacking returns.
Carragher, however, still believes Caicedo has work to do to justify his own lofty fee and insists Rice, at this stage, looks a more complete midfielder at the heart of Arsenal’s engine room.
Asked to rank 2023’s £100m midfielders, he told Sky Sports: ‘I’ve got Jude Bellingham as No.1.
Declan Rice impressed on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
‘I think No.2 and this is maybe just on the back of Sunday’s performance, I may put Fernandez second because what I saw there, if we see that a lot more going forward he looks like a complete midfield player, especially if he adds more goals.
‘I would go with Declan Rice next and I’d go fourth Caicedo, who I am a huge fan of, but I would just put him fourth on this list right now and see how he does at Chelsea.’
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Despite their extravagant summer spending, Chelsea are by no means finished yet having agreed a £60mifee with Southampton for Romeo Lavia, while they have also activated the £35m release clause in Michael Olise’s Crystal Palace contract.
Having been blown out of the water by Chelsea for both Lavia and Caicedo, Liverpool have now turned their attention to signing Stuttgart’s Japan international midfielder Wataru Endo.
MORE : Chelsea open to Lewis Hall sale but want £30m for Newcastle and Crystal Palace target
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The big boys have been splashing the cash.