Jamie Redknapp has caused a stir with his column for the Daily Mail on Monday, saying he believes Kevin De Bruyne is already a better passer than legends such as Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes and Dennis Bergkamp.

De Bruyne has been one of the stars of the season so far, helping City to charge to the top of the table by an 11 point margin.

The Premier League has been blessed with some of the finest midfielders on the planet, and Redknapp believes the Belgian is the finest he has seen.

Writing for the Mail, the former Liverpool player said: “The Premier League has been blessed with players capable of defence-splitting passes.

“Cesc Fabregas has that long, quarter-back pass he has used to superb effect to set up Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and now Alvaro Morata.

“Frank Lampard had a great understanding with Didier Drogba, setting up 24 of his 104 Premier League goals — a record number of assists for a pair of players.

“Dennis Bergkamp had a sublime weight of pass and was so unselfish. It’s little wonder Thierry Henry says he was the best he played with.

“But in Kevin De Bruyne we have a midfielder whose passing is on another level. His range is the best I have seen. The slide-rule pass to play in a team-mate, the cute reverse passes, the sweeping cross-field balls — there is nothing the Manchester City midfielder cannot do.

“His numbers speak for themselves: joint-most assists in the Premier League this season (eight), most chances created (56), most passes in the opposition half (1,035). When I spoke to De Bruyne last month, he said assists were more special to him than goals… but that has not stopped him scoring six!

“The difference with De Bruyne is his bravery. He plays without fear in the final third.
He does not need to worry about whether his pass will be completed because he has such belief in his team-mates.”
[Quotes via Mail]