Former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has singled out Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as one of the Premier League's elite talents, despite the Blues' often-criticised transfer spending.
Dramatic Winner Highlights Growing Influence
The Argentine international demonstrated his match-winning capabilities with a stoppage-time strike against West Ham United on Saturday, securing a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. After falling two goals behind to their London rivals, the Blues fought back through Joao Pedro and Marc Cucrella before Fernandez's decisive intervention.
The 25-year-old has now registered 11 goals across all competitions this season, showcasing an impressive scoring touch that has surprised many observers who initially viewed him as a deep-lying midfielder following his £106.8 million move from Benfica in January 2023.
Carragher's Glowing Assessment
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher placed Fernandez among the Premier League's very best midfield operators. "There's no doubt they're two of the best midfielders in the Premier League," Carragher said, referencing Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice, "but he is right up there with the best players in the Premier League."
The Liverpool legend specifically highlighted Fernandez's attacking instincts, stating: "He is one of the best box-crashers we see in the Premier League. Permanently getting on the end of things. I don't see him as a holding midfield player. He is a number 8 or a number 10, getting into the box and getting goals."
Carragher added: "A lot of criticism has come at Chelsea for the money that they've spent, but when they've spent big in the centre of the park, it's paid off."
Manager's High Praise and Tactical Flexibility
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior, who has overseen a positive start to his tenure at Stamford Bridge, was equally effusive in his praise for the Argentine midfielder. "I thought the right person scored the goal," Rosenior told the BBC after the West Ham victory. "I thought Enzo Fernandez's performance was absolutely world class."
Rosenior elaborated on Fernandez's versatility and importance to his tactical plans: "He's a Chelsea player. He's very important to me. He's got an extreme skill set, technically he's outstanding, he covers a lot of ground. He's a very good athlete. He can finish, he can score, he arrives really well in the box when he plays higher up."
The Chelsea manager emphasised his preference for tactical flexibility, noting: "I don't like pigeon-holing players. In my career I've used players in different roles. He can play deeper as a 6, which he did really well against Arsenal. He came on against Charlton and did really well."
Transfer Speculation and Future Prospects
Despite recent speculation linking Fernandez with a move to Real Madrid during the January transfer window, Rosenior has made it clear that the Argentine remains central to his plans at Stamford Bridge. The manager expressed confidence about their working relationship, stating: "I think we're going to have a really good, hopefully winning relationship in the short term and the long term."
Fernandez's evolution from a deep-lying midfielder to a more advanced, goal-scoring threat represents one of Chelsea's most successful recent investments, according to Carragher's analysis. As Chelsea continue their development under Rosenior, Fernandez's ability to influence games from multiple midfield positions provides the Blues with valuable tactical options as they pursue success in domestic and European competitions.
