Former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Michael Owen believes Chelsea may have the best “midfield combination” in the English top flight following the arrival of Moises Caicedo from Brighton.

With the Ecuadorian expected to partner Enzo Fernandez, Owen says the pair could be “formidable” in the centre of the pitch for the Blues:

“Adding Caicedo to that [Chelsea] midfield will be almost formidable. Him and Enzo Fernandez in midfield, I can’t think of a better midfield combination in the Premier League. You look at Rodri and [Kevin] De Bruyne. But that is one serious signing for Chelsea.”

After Fernandez’s man-of-the-match performance on the opening day, the thought of him being paired with the talents of Caicedo is a mouthwatering prospect.

Of course, it is important to point out that they are both still very young, with Fernandez just a year older than Caicedo at 22 years of age, but they could be mainstays of Chelsea’s midfield for many years to come.

No signing comes without risk

There is no getting away from the fact that Chelsea were forced into paying a lot more than they would have wanted for Caicedo.

The transfer could end up costing a British record £115m but he is exactly what manager Mauricio Pochettino needs in midfield. While spending so much on one player is a gamble, you do feel that Caicedo possesses all the attributes to be a success at Stamford Bridge.

Some also criticised the Blues for shelling out too much on Fernandez but not many are questioning the decision now.

When could we see the pair in action for Chelsea?

Caicedo did play a full part of Brighton’s pre-season so he should be available for the trip to West Ham this weekend. There was talk that he had a minor hamstring problem but some have suggested that was part of the midfielder’s attempts to force through a move away from the Seagulls.

It is, therefore, possible that we could see the Ecuadorian international partnered with Fernandez for the first time on Sunday.