Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Chelsea assistant Jody Morris has backed Jude Bellingham to go down as the finest midfielder England has ever produced.
Morris believes Jose Mourinho will see his new Frank Lampard in the Real Madrid man, and has explained why Harry Kane deserves to win the Ballon d'Or after the second-best goalscoring season in history.
The former Chelsea man has also dismissed the Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi comparisons, named Michael Olise as his favourite footballer to watch, and assessed what a move for Bradley Barcola would mean.
Bellingham
Can Mourinho Get the Best Out of Bellingham?
Jose Mourinho is going to absolutely love Jude Bellingham . He had a bit more of a quiet season last year at Real Madrid , but the season before was incredible for someone who had just arrived. What he's achieved at such a young age- Player of the Year in Germany , multiple tournaments for England , and his success at Real Madrid is phenomenal. He scored seven goals from midfield in the World Cup . This isn't a number 10 who shirks defensive responsibilities.
He was going box-to-box, doing his defensive duties, and the shift he put in was impressive. Apart from the second half against Argentina , he performed in every game. He and Elliot Anderson provided energy and bite. He showed many different facets to his game.
He showed good resilience in the semi-final when Argentina were trying to wind him up. He showed skill, composure in the final third, and leadership. Jose will look at him and see his new Frank Lampard , a leader on the pitch who hits that high level of consistency.
Can Bellingham Go Down as England's Best Ever?
I think Jude Bellingham is going to be England 's greatest ever midfielder. He has already proven it in tournaments. He is head and shoulders above anyone near him. When you talk about being better than Lampard or Steven Gerrard , you are talking about a phenomenon.
For me, he's already world-class. I think he's been world-class for a couple of years. And I think he'll relish playing under someone like Jose Mourinho .
The Ballon d'Or
Is Kane Right to Extend His Contract?
I don't see why Harry Kane would want to move. Bayern Munich is an amazing football club. He is in Ballon d'Or conversations while winning trophies. Unless he wanted a new family experience in Spain or wanted to come back to break the Premier League record, those would be the only things to pull him away.
The level he performed at for Bayern last year was phenomenal. He never quite hit that same level in the World Cup , although his goal tally was decent. Vincent Kompany has been a great fit for him. In my opinion, he should win the Ballon d'Or . He had the second-best goal-scoring season in history. How do you not win the Ballon d'Or with those numbers while winning trophies and going deep in a tournament with England ?
Could Messi Still Win the Ballon d'Or?
Lionel Messi is the greatest player to ever put on boots. I'm his biggest fan, but if you play in the MLS , you shouldn't win the Ballon d'Or just because you had a good World Cup at 39 years old. If he were producing those numbers in a top European league, it would be different. Any suggestion of that is hard to consider, but it wouldn't surprise me.
What About the Yamal and Messi Comparisons?
Lamine Yamal is phenomenal, and what he's achieved at 19 is outstanding. He was La Liga Player of the Year, but he was nowhere near Lionel Messi 's level in the tournament. He was better in the Euros , and I don't think he should be in the conversation.
If you are talking about someone in his position, Michael Olise is ahead of him. If Olise had scored a few more goals in this tournament, he would be right up there. If you're picking a World XI right now, Olise is in it.
Michael Olise
Will Olise Be Back in the Premier League?
When you get to that level, there's no rush to come back for Michael Olise unless he wants to return home. He is suited to the continental style of play. He has already produced in the Premier League and can have his pick of where to go. I imagine Bayern will give him a huge new deal to stave off interest.
I think everyone in world football would want to sign him. He is the type of player who gets you on the edge of your seat. I haven't seen a player open up a defence like that in a long time. Lionel Messi is the only one similar in that regard. He will be disappointed to have missed chances in the tournament. He is my favourite footballer to watch at the moment.
Would Olise Be the Ultimate Dream Signing For Chelsea?
Chelsea would need to make unbelievable strides to even be in the conversation for a player like Michael Olise . We tried to get him from Palace before, and not getting him is what led us to signing Cole Palmer . Michael Olise plays in any World XI for me right now. The signing of Eden Hazard at the time was huge, and he went on to be a great.
For me, Hazard is the greatest individual player to ever play for Chelsea in terms of talent, though he's third on the overall list behind John Terry and Frank Lampard . Olise is the closest we would get to someone who can entertain the Stamford Bridge crowd while also producing numbers. He has a great balance of being great to watch with flair, but he doesn't shirk his production in the final third. He still manages goals and assists while floating around the pitch. He is a phenomenal player.
Would Barcola Be a Statement Signing For Arsenal or Liverpool?
Bradley Barcola would be a statement signing. He is an outstanding talent. He was PSG 's top goalscorer in the league last year even though he wasn't starting all the time. He is a goal threat with electrifying pace. Our current attack with Estevao , Rogers , and Cole Palmer has outstanding talent, but not that same electrifying pace.
If Liverpool or Arsenal get Barcola , that would be an amazing signing. I imagine if he were available, Chelsea would be in the running, but I don't see someone who has just won two Champions Leagues wanting to go to a club that isn't even in Europe . That is the downside of how we performed last year.
You miss out on top players like that. We were lucky to get Rogers ; that's a huge credit to the owners and the manager. I don't see us getting two players of that calibre. Barcola has to move. He didn't play as much as he should have last year. If PSG sign another wide man, he definitely needs to leave. It won't just be Arsenal and Liverpool , the biggest clubs in Europe will be trying to sign him. I think he's brilliant.
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