Xhaka backs Fernandes as top attacking midfielder, praises Palmer

Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has named Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes the Premier League's top attacking midfielder and offered high praise for Chelsea forward Cole Palmer as the two clubs prepare to meet at Stamford Bridge later this month. Xhaka ranked Fernandes ahead of Chelsea's Palmer and Liverpool's Florian Wirtz during a recent appearance in which he was asked to order the three players, and described Palmer as a central figure for the Blues despite the 22 year old currently being sidelined by injury.

"I will put Bruno first," Xhaka said, citing Fernandes' sustained output for club and country and "unbelievable" recent numbers. On Palmer he added, "He's amazing. How much he improved after his move from Man City to Chelsea, unbelievable. He's the key man in my opinion, he finds the spaces between the lines, he finds the last pass and he can score as well himself."

Palmer joined Chelsea from Manchester City in 2023 for a reported fee of about 47 million pounds and quickly became one of the club's most influential attacking players, finishing his debut season with the most goal contributions at Stamford Bridge. He has scored twice in four appearances this...