“He would probably be in my top five players of ability on the ball”. This is the sort of phrase you would most likely hear from a pundit.
But when it comes from your own sporting director who was a legend of the game, you know that the player has something special about them.
And that player is Eberechi Eze of Queens Park Rangers.
Despite the well deserved praise that the 21-year-old now receives for his performances week in week out in the Championship, just like every other player- it hasn’t been an easy journey.
Having been rejected at the likes of Arsenal, Fulham and Reading and Millwall at youth level, the future may have looked bleak for the Nigerian International.
But his hard work and eagerness to constantly improve his game earned himself a chance to prove his real mettle and determination to succeed.
Signed by The Hoops in 2017 from their London rivals Millwall, it wasn’t straight into the first team as many people may have expected for the young player.
In fact a loan move to League One side Wycombe Wanderers was to follow. A spell in English football which helped the Nigerian really adapt to the pace and physicality of top professional football.
Eze’s loan spell in the 2018/19 season yielded a total of five goals for the side from Buckinghamshire.
The decision to keep the Nigerian for the 2019/20 season just demonstrated the trust that the likes of Sir Les Ferdinand and others on the QPR board had in the 21-year-olds ability to shine bright like a diamond in the Championship.
And that trust was repaid with the star dazzling performances that the young attacking midfielder produced week in and week out in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
A goal return so far this season (2019/20- currently on pause due to the Coronavirus outbreak) of 12 and eight assists notched to his name has made the midfielder well known in the football landscape to everyone.
The best of the goal count arguably coming at the start of the season with Eze’s wonderful weaving run and finish capping off a beautiful team goal in Rangers’s 2-1 away win against Stoke at the Bet 365 stadium.
As we pause to reflect on the season so far during this pandemic, Les Ferdinand has been speaking exclusively to BCOMS about where the 21-year-old is currently at with his game.
“On a number of occasions I’ve said he’s got the ability to play at a top six club in this country,” said Ferdinand. “If he doesn’t, then I think he has failed himself.”
“But I think he’s a very talented boy. And I’ve played with some great players in my career, and he would probably be in my top five in terms of ability on the ball.
“He’s got a lot more to do in terms of work rate, but in terms of ability on the ball- he would probably be in the top five of players I would have played with (If he was playing back in my time).
“He’s got a really bright future in front of him, so I’m really looking forward to see his progress.”
These same thoughts about a potential top six player on the books at QPR are also shared by the manager Mark Warbuton who spoke glowingly of the 21-year-old in an interview with Sky Sports.
“I’ve been very, very impressed,” said the QPR manager. “I honestly believe that he is a top-six Premier League player all day long.”
With a current transfer value of £8.1m (according to the reliable Transfermarkt), it’s no wonder that fellow London clubs in the top six such as Chelsea and Tottenham are already monitoring the progress of the attacking midfielder ahead of a potential move in the future.
A move which he would have to make in the future to not ‘fail’ as a player in the eyes of Ferdinand.
The ex Reading trialist at youth level is constantly being compared to current Reading midfielder Ovie Ejaria.
A war on social media about who the better player has broken out between the two sets of fans.
And whilst both players play in the same position, both are as equally vital to their respective sides and both are considered the stars of their respective sides.
Saying one is better than the other is unfair in reality as both pose their importance to both clubs in different ways.
The only factor that Eze has on his side compared to the Reading midfielder is that he is one year younger so allowing more time for him to develop as a player.
But one thing is for certain- Eberechi Eze is a special player and don’t be surprised to see him playing for a club at the top levels of English football in the future.
By Danyal Khan (BCOMS DotSM programme student- 2019/20)
Danyal Khan Sports Blog 