Rio Ferdinand believes Kevin De Bruyne is already among the Premier League’s greatest-ever midfielders after he matched Steven Gerrard’s assists

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne could hold his own playing in or against any midfield in the Premier League era.

The Belgian equalled Steven Gerrard’s Premier League assists total when City won 3-0 at Wolves on Saturday, setting up his 91st and 92nd goals in the competition.

But, remarkably, De Bruyne has matched the record in 287 games fewer than Gerrard did for Liverpool.

He still has some way to go to match the Premier League record of 162 by Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs, with the likes of David Silva, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas next in his sights.

And Ferdinand believes De Bruyne is a match for legends Gerrard, Lampard, Paul Scholes, Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane when it comes to judging the Premier League’s best-ever midfielder.

‘He has just equalled Gerrard in terms of assists in the Premier League, but in far less games,’ Ferdinand said on his FIVE YouTube show. ‘He still has some way to go to equal Cesc, Giggs, Lampard.

‘Say if Frank, Stevie, Scholesy, Vieira, Keane were playing against Kevin De Bruyne now, it would be interesting.

150 – Kevin De Bruyne has been directly involved in 150 @PremierLeague goals (58 goals, 92 assists) in just 217 appearances in the competition. Deluxe. pic.twitter.com/jv6X3AcBfr

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 17, 2022

‘The game is different. Would De Bruyne be able to play in a two-man midfield against a Vieira or Scholes? Would he be as effective?

‘I think De Bruyne would. His capacity to run, his dynamism, his ability on the ball. Only [David] Beckham passes the ball better on the run, crossing-wise.’

Assist king De Bruyne has already created eight goals for City this season – six in the Premier League and two in the Champions League – as well as scoring in the 4-0 win over Bournemouth.

His two assists in the win at Molineux took reigning champions City top of the Premier League table but they were overtaken by Arsenal 24 hours later after the Gunners won 3-0 at Brentford.

De Bruyne is now on international duty with Belgium as they prepare to take on Wales and Holland in the UEFA Nations League.

They currently trail the Dutch by three points in League A4 of the competition with only the group winner advancing to next summer’s finals.

Source: Daily Mail