Paul Scholes
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Moises Caicedo’s impressive start to the 2025/26 season has sparked discussions about his value and standing among Premier League midfielders. Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has expressed that Caicedo is now worth upwards of £200 million, given his outstanding performances for Chelsea. The Ecuadorian international has been pivotal in Chelsea’s midfield, showcasing his skills and even scoring goals, such as his recent strike against Liverpool.
Frank Leboeuf said: “Remember the first season, they paid £100 million and we were wondering, is he worth it? But now he is worth more than that, double that. Because that guy gives you such business in the middle of the park, that for the others, it makes things simpler. It’s easier. We go back to the previous generation of defensive midfielder, Wisey [Dennis Wise], Claude Makelele and N’Golo Kante, those fantastic players that give their lives every game. We used to call them water carriers, they were in the shade of the others. They were the bad people destroying everything. David Batty and the fantastic Roy Keane. Sitting here now, going into October 2025, I think we can say Caicedo is the best midfielder in the league.”
Despite Leboeuf’s high praise for Caicedo, former Manchester United star Paul Scholes offers a different perspective. Scholes, speaking on The Overlap, believes that Caicedo is not the best midfielder in the league and instead favors Sandro Tonali for that accolade.
Paul Scholes said: “Right now? That’s tough. I still don’t class Moises Caicedo as an all-round midfield player. I know he scored a great goal and was brilliant the other day. I got some stick last year after having a go at him and I almost thought about taking that back because he was brilliant in the Club World Cup. I just prefer the controlling type of midfield players who play with a bit more style and can score goals a bit more often than Caicedo. It was a brilliant goal against Liverpool but you wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t do that again for another 18 months, would you? He’s one of the best at what he does which is breaking up the play, he’s brilliant at that. But I prefer the other types. Alexis Mac Allister was absolutely brilliant last season, he controlled a lot of games and I think Liverpool are missing that at the moment. I love Sandro Tonali as well. He’s been brilliant. Very good. I would probably choose Tonali at this point.”
Caicedo’s journey at Chelsea has been remarkable since his transfer from Brighton in 2023 for a then-record £115 million. While his performances have silenced many skeptics, the debate over his valuation and role continues. Leboeuf’s comparison to legendary midfielders highlights Caicedo’s impact, while Scholes’ preference for a different midfield style underscores the diversity of opinions on what constitutes the best midfielder in the league.
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