For those that pick me up on it, I avoided using the’w’-word: Probably the most overused noun for ‘up and coming talented youngster’.
However the authors of the report reviewing and ranking every young super-talented Premier League youngster achieved no such self control. The **‘**_**[Wonderkid](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-transfer-news-hammers-double-down-efforts-for-la-liga-wonderkid/) power rankings**‘ (I kid you not) –_ as they’ve become christened, rates every starlet according to their performances.
And the big, if not totally surprising news, is that one of ‘_West Ham’s finest_‘ is currently fourth in said ‘power rankings’ – behind three top _‘junior superstars’_ shall we call them.
Behind **Michael Kayode (1st)**, **Noah Sadiki (2nd)** and **Nico O’Reilly (3rd)** sits- West Ham’s own **Mateus Fernandes.**
Potts may have grabbed the headlines but Mateus Fernandes gets the real recognition
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According to the report in [_3addedminutes.com_](https://www.3addedminutes.com/sport/football/brentford/wonderkid-power-rankings-best-young-players-premier-league-chelsea-5397608), who have produced the rankings, Fernandes would normally be even higher were it not for the outstanding performances of the three above him:
_“It’s hard to find a single fault with Fernandes’ play against Burnley – the Portuguese midfield was in fine form right the way up and down the pitch, his passing and use of the ball was superb, his ability to retain possession under pressure highly impressive and his defensive work when tracking back was rock solid throughout._
_The former Southampton man barely misplaced a pass all match, was responsible for three key passes, completed all three of his attempted tackles and forced three turnovers, too, a high-quality all-round statline that very fairly represented a game in which he was arguably the best player on the field. In most weeks, he’d be on the move up the table, but this was also a week in which everyone above him was in fine fettle as well…”_
Whilst Freddie Potts may have grabbed the headlines in east London, it is Fernandes who has been recognised as being in the top five young prospects in the whole Premier League.
_Just for the record, Fernandes is ranked above: 5th Estevão Willian (Chelsea), 6th Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea), 7th Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace), 8th Yankuba Minteh (Brighton), 9th Lesley Ugochukwu (Burnley) and 10th Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth)._
And that’s a pretty loft achievement and one which surely justifies the £40 million-plus that West Ham paid for him in August.
Already living up to the huge price tag, whether it was Potter, Macaulay or Sullivan who got the deal over the line it matters not: All that is important is that for a change, _West Ham captured an absolute, no question, top quality player who, at still only 21, can take the club to new heights._
Now that’s what I call a wonderkid.