Jamie Carragher names Arsenal's new Premier League title threat after blockbuster transfer
Jamie Carragher has delivered a fresh Premier League title verdict(Image: Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher has named Manchester City as the team that will push Arsenal closest for the Premier League title this season, following Enzo Fernandez's move to the Etihad Stadium.
City paid a joint British transfer record fee of £125million to sign Fernandez from Chelsea on deadline day, ending speculation around his future. It completes a comprehensive overhaul of their midfield after the departure of talismanic figure Rodri to Barcelona earlier this summer.
Elliot Anderson moved to City in a £116m deal from Nottingham Forest during the World Cup, and after the tournament, City made Ayyoub Bouaddi the most expensive teenager in English football when they signed from Lille with the transfer worth £81.4m plus add-ons.
City have maintained an assertive approach in the transfer market and have now captured the Argentine World Cup winner, who was eager to link up with Enzo Maresca after he replaced Pep Guardiola in June. With that, Carragher now believes City could mount a challenge at claiming the title for the first time in three years.
Asked whether Fernandez brings City nearer to Arsenal in the Premier League title fight, he responded: "I think he does, certainly pushed them above Chelsea, and myself and plenty of others thought Chelsea would have a really good season. Some of that is off the back of not having European football and having a new manager. But losing Enzo Fernandez, who over the last two of three players, has been one of the big players for Chelsea.
Manchester City have signed Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea(Image: Manchester City FC)
"They've always had five or six top players but not a lot around that. They've now lost one of them - and he's gone to Man City. They look a lot stronger and they're going to be the biggest challengers to Arsenal now."
The departure of Rodri, who had been with the club since 2019, was enormous. The Spaniard became a cornerstone of their achievements, claiming the Ballon d'Or during his time there.
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Following four Premier League titles and Champions League glory, he transferred to Barcelona, yet Carragher is struck by how effectively they've reconstructed the midfield.
He added: "It is a really good squad, there's been a lot of turnover over the last 12 months. Losing Rodri was really big thing and I thought it would be really difficult to recover from that. But if you said they'd bring in Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez you'd say that's a top midfield. I think that gives them the greatest chance, ahead of any other team, and maybe the only team who can wrestle this title from Arsenal."
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