Man City are favourites ahead of Arsenal to win Premier League after ‘amazing’ signing - Insider
Man City are the leading contenders for the Premier League title ahead of Arsenal after signing Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes Fernandez's arrival can fire City to glory this season.
The Argentine international officially arrived at City from Chelsea for a reported fee of £125million on Deadline Day.
His signing has seen the Citizens equal the joint-British transfer fee paid for a player alongside Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool last summer.
Fernandez was new boss Enzo Maresca's top midfield target throughout the summer after they worked together closely during the Italian's spell in charge of Chelsea.
City are aiming to return to title contention under their new manager this season, having spent a league-high £440.3m during the summer window.
Enzo Fernandez signing means Man City can leapfrog Arsenal this season
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – rates Fernandez highly as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old will anchor a new-look Citizens midfield alongside fellow summer signing Ayyoub Bouaddi this season.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained that he feels Fernandez can be the catalyst for City to win the title this season, despite Arsenal's strong start to the campaign.
He said: “We can all say that we're all amazed at numbers these days, but not really. He does seem to be a player with that quality. He's got those leadership instincts as well. I think for City, it's an amazing capture to put in there and gives them the leadership that they may have lacked after some of the players that have gone.
"They've certainly rebuilt the squad. And last week, we talked about how City, rather than out-buying people, are going to be out-trading them. I think they've done it again in this window. They've had a very successful window, they've out-traded a lot of clubs and they have been the one setting the chains in action. They've been the one setting the agendas, and they control a lot of other clubs to that degree.
“But certainly from the football side, they've definitely established themselves as challengers for the title in my view, if not the top club right now, having seen Arsenal have the most convincing start, I think City are going to start coming into their own, it could be a very exciting title chase going forward.
“The money doesn't really phase me at that level. I think that's where the market is. And when you're talking about nearly £3.5billion being spent in this window, that's a phenomenal amount of money.”
Wyness admits that new City partnership could cause controversy
City are given licence to spend such big fees due to their impressive commercial viability and ability attract lucrative contracts with investors.
The club announced last month that Turkish e-commerce platform Trendyol are their new 'Official Online Marketplace Partner,' meaning they get access to all the benefits of a usual partner.
Wyness has admitted to Football Insider that City's links to Trendyol may prompt concerns from other sponsors because they were able to agree a partnership deal for just £2m.
He feels like the Citizens' more established partners could be annoyed by the Turkish company getting access to the club's lucrative brand for such an insignificant fee compared to the huge amounts they pay year-on-year.