The Premier League paradox is that midfielders are becoming more expensive, yet more mediocre. Fernández and Sandro Tonali had big-money summer moves, but can they hold a candle to past greats? Enzo Maresca, Manchester City's coach, has chosen to play Marc Guéhi in central midfield rather than any of the midfielders he had available, which encapsulates the league's emphasis on physical, tenacious midfielders.
The absence of generational midfield talents, particularly creative talents, is a bug that may be progressing into a sickness. The Premier League's surge-pricing era has led to a chaotic spectacle of excess, where the Barclays tax is applied to players who are adjusted to the league. Manchester United have added Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba, and Youri Tielemans, while Tottenham have maxed out the credit card to bring in Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.
The most expensive generation of central midfielders in Premier League history is also one of its most mediocre. The best central midfielders operating in world football are elsewhere, with only a few exceptions in the Premier League. The league's focus on physicality and familiarity with players has led to a feedback loop, where inefficiency and overspending are treasured as signs of ambition.