Jamie Redknapp thought ‘exceptional’ Chelsea star would flop in the Premier League

Jamie Redknapp thought Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez would be struggle to ‘compete’ in the Premier League.

Fernandez completed a staggering £107m move to Stamford Bridge at the start of 2023 in a deal which saw him become the most expensive player in Premier League history.

The midfield star had just helped Argentina win the World Cup and then became the British record signing, eclipsing the £100m Manchester City spent on Jack Grealish.

Fernandez was named young player of the tournament during the World Cup and proceeded to sign a stunning eight-and-a-half year contract at Chelsea.

Despite his huge price-tag, Fernandez underwhelmed during his first season in west London and found himself out of the team at the start of the current campaign.

Chelsea fans must have been wondering if they had signed a dud but the Argentine has looked far better this term with three goals and three assists in 11 league games.

Ex-England midfielder Redknapp was impressed by Fernandez’s performance in Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Tottenham and said he looked ‘exceptional’.

‘The manager [Enzo Maresca] has solved the conundrum that other managers struggled with in terms of getting the best out of Enzo Fernandez,’ he told Sky Sports.

‘He looks exceptional in midfield. He looks like the player that they bought for £105m.

‘I thought the Premier League was just too quick for him. I didn’t think he would be able to compete. You’ve got to obviously play him high up the pitch; he’s not a defensive midfield player.’

Arsenal legend Martin Keown also heaped praise on Fernandez, who is arguably one of the most in-form players in the Premier League.

‘[Enzo] Fernandez looks unrecognisable,’ he told talkSPORT. ‘Everyone was saying he’s a World Cup winner, now he’s looking like one, scoring goals from midfield and joining in the attack.’

Coming from two goals down to beat Tottenham gave Chelsea their third successive victory and leaves them four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

‘I think they’re genuine [title] contenders,’ former Everton defender Ashley Williams told BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘They can say whatever they want.

‘They have gone under the radar until this week – and they would have been happy with that – but now a lot of people are looking at them after a big performance.

‘They have been consistently good for a long time this season. Credit to Maresca who has been unbelievable. Chelsea are in the mix.

‘They’re that good and that consistent. They’re as good as any team in the league right now.’

Maresca, who arrived at Stamford Bridge over the summer, has repeatedly downplayed Chelsea’s title chances, however, and did so again after the Spurs win.

‘We are ahead of my expectation,’ he said. ‘In terms of the way we play on the ball, off the ball and in terms of the results.

‘Arsenal, [Manchester] City and Liverpool probably don’t slide. We are not ready. We are far from these teams, but we focus on day-by-day and trying to improve the team.

‘The plan or the idea is to not let the players slow down. They cannot drop because they know another player is waiting to come in.’

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